20. developments in Africa and the Americas Flashcards
explain the impact of cuban intervention in Angola?
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explain what happened in Angola?
- in 1960’s Portugal controlled Angola and was fighting Angolan nationalists
- when Portugal’s right wing government was overthrown in 1974, Angola was promised independence and installed an interim coalition government to help the move to independence
- coalition between the MPLA, UNITA and the FNLA
- withe the FNLA and the MPLA receiving support after the civil war in 1975
explain the support received by the FNLA and the MPLA?
- MPLA:
- is a marxist party
- assistance before civil war received=arms+aid from USSR and military advisors from China
- assistance received after the civil war=40,000 troops from Cuba, military supplies+economic assistance from the USSR
FNLA:
- nationalist, later pro-USA
- assistance before civil war received= $300,000 covert funding from USA, military advisors from China
- assistance received after the civil war= aid from China, $25 mil in supplies and $16mil in arms from USA
- aid from Zaire and support from south africa
explain the outcome of the civil war?
- oct, 1975 the FNLA advanced towards capital, Luanda
- cuban forces protected Luanda and helped MPLA get victory over FNLA in 1976
- MPLA created peoples republic of Angola and formally recognised by other African states in Feb 1976 and USA in 1977
explain relations with Angola and Cuba?
- Cuba and Angola developed strong relations continuing until the end of the Cold war
- after civil war Cuba promised military aid if PRA faced external threats
- by 1988 52,000 cuban troops were stationed in the country
- Cuba provided thousands of experts to assist with development
explain china’s position in Angola?
- china wanted to support Angolan independence
- china’s deteriorating relationship with USSR meant it didn’t want to support soviet expansion in Africa but wanted to play on US fears of soviet expansion
- therefore supported both sides initially before soley backing the FNLA
- china withdrew support for FNLA in 1975 once USA and SAfrica became more heavily involved
explain the USA’s position in Angola?
- when MPLA won civil war USA didn’t want to intervene any more
- would save money and protect the USA from international criticism
- USA didn’t see MPLA as a threat to US interests and didn’t want to support FNLA anymore as they also got support from SAfrica
explain the USSR’s position in Angola?
- soviet Support for MPLA was focused on preventing spread of Chinese communism
- also wanted to expand influence in developing countries
- USSR believed US and Chinese support was a part of Sino-Us collaboration
- believing interference was in line with detente as they were aiding people fighting for liberation
explain what happened in Ethiopia?
-Ethiopian leader Selassie replaced with a Marxist Leninist regime led by Colonel Mengistu
-3 years later there was a war between Somaia incaded Ethiopia, as S tried to retake territory that Britain had given to Ethiopia
-Mengistu appealed for support from USSR and Cuba
-USSR withdrew support from Somalia and Cuba sent troops to Ethiopia
=ceasefire in March 1978 and retreat of Somali troops
-USA accused USSR of trying to extend communist influence in Africa, relations between USA and Cuba were damaged
explain the impact of US intervention in Chile?
- in 1970 socialist Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile (despite US coup to stop this)
- his polices led to large scale land redistribution
- US stopped world bank from lending to Cuba and withdrew their own aid, led to inflation+ high unemployment
- strikes and riots helped Augusto Pinochet plan a coup, overthrowing Allende
- shows american policy and willingness to suppress leftist regimes in Latin America
explain the impact of US intervention in Grenada?
- In 1979 leftist New Jewel movement banned other political parties and accepted aid from USSR and Cuba
- Ot 1983 Bernard Coard seized power
- US sent 7000 troops claiming they wanted to protect American medical students studying there
- Soviet negotiators walked out of Geneva arms control talks in response = US imperialism
- potentially harming relations with UK as Thatcher was angry that she was not consulted as G was a former british colony
explain the impact of US intervention in Nicaragua?
- June 1979, Sandinista Liberation Front seized power
- Carter recognised this government, providing assistance to keep N in western sphere of influence
- when Reagan became president in 1981, he supported an anti-communist group (contras) rather than the Sandinista’s
- USA funded and trained contras (US made illegal arm sales to Iran with intentions of using profits to purchase arms for the contras)
- March 1982, Sandinista’s imposed censorship and compulsory military conscriptions
