Chapter Twenty Flashcards
In the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, what was the status of American and Cuban relations?
They maintained their hostility towards one another- USA fearful of further expansion of communism into the Americas, and its policies, especially in the Caribbean reflected this. American foreign policy in its own back yard supported the most brutal regimes if they were anti-communist.
Cuban foreign policy also shifted course and export of revolution became its prime objective. Led to interference in Africa.
What was the situation in Africa in the 1960s?
Most of Africa gained its independence in the 1960s and the newly created states still suffered effects of colonialism (withdrawl of Europeans led many countries without effective governments or civil services. This led to civil strife and so Cuba provided supprt to developing political parties advocating socialist and/or Marxist ideals. Cuba sent more troops overseas during CW than all other countries, including USSR- except for USA.
What happened in 1974 in Angola?
Portuguese maintained colonies of Mozambique and Angola in Africa but since early 1960s had been fighting against Angolian nationalists.
April 1974 newly installed left government in Lisbon (Portugal) promised independence to Angola.
What were the MPLA, UNITA and FNLA? Why were they created?
Portuguese tried to establish an interim Angolan government made up of representatives of the different nationalist factions- goal was to have them help move Angola to full independence in 1975.
Representatives were from MPLA (Marxist Movimento Popular de Liberacao de Angola) UNITA (initially Maoist Uniao Nacional para de Independencia Total de Angola) and FNLA (Nationalist, pro-US Frente Nacional de Libertacao de Angola).
What foreign intervention was there in the situation in Angola? Before the Civil War of Spring 1975
Chinese sent 120 military advisors to aid FNLA. 1974
USA provided $300,000 in covert funding in January 1975 to the FNLA.
May be surprising that the USA supported a group also supported by China, but the USA were simply interested in undermining the MPLA, which was receiving both arms and aid from Soviet Union.
Cuba sent military instructors to support MPLA (consistent with Cuba’s new supporting for revolutionary regimes policy).
What erupted in the spring of 1975? What aid was given to the FNLA?
A civil war.
The three nationalist groups had a collective ai of independence, and when the Portuguese began their withdrawal, this broke down.
In July Kissinger persuaded President Ford to send $25 million in supplies and $16 million in arms to FNLA.
Zaire also sent aid to FNLA (to prevent Marxist government taking hold in its neighbouring state).
South Africa was concerned if MPLA gov took power that the African National Congress would have a bae from which it could attack the apartheid system in South Africa at the time.
What military action was there from Oct 1975?
FNLA (supported by SA forces) advanced towards the capital of Angola- Luanda.
Cuban forces protected Luanda. Nov they won victory against SA.
By Jan 1976 there were about 12,000 Cuban troops supporting MPLA, aided MPLA in reaching victory by March 1976.
As early as November 1975 the MPLA proclaimed the creation of the Peoples’ Republic of Angola (PRA). Although not formally recognised until Feb 1976
What was the status of relations between the Soviet Union and Cuba?
Relations developed well. October 1976, Soviet Union ratified 20 year Treaty of Friendship.
Where did the strongest and most consistent support for the PRA come from?
Cuba. Began removal of troops early 1977 but promised military aid should the PRA face external threats, particularly from SA.
Cuban troops were used to support Neto’s (Angolan’s leader) suppression of an attempted coup by Nito Alves, a pro-Soviet rival. Cuba’s role was reinforced by strong Angolan-Cuban relations and this weakened Neto’s links with the Soviet Union.
By 1988 the Cubans had an all time high of 52,000 troops in the country.
What did the US realise in the Summer of 1975?
That the FNLA was not going to win the pwer struggle.
First option= do nothing. Avoid coatly involvement in situation over which USA may not succeed in. Significant given position in Vietnam. Also protect US from international criticism and avoid irritation of MPLA.
Outomc ewould be Neto able to etablish a dominant position and Angola would lmost towards political left. Zaire may became anti-American. US was also quetioning whether Soviet aid to MPLA was consistent with detente.
What was the USA’s thinking towards the MPLA?
Did not regard Angola as a direct threat to its strategic and economic interests- and the MPLA itself was not seen as more objectable than other roups at the time. Dec 1975 William Colby (Director of Central Intelligence) announced that there was little difference amon the competing groups in Angola and they were all ‘independents’ and leftists. USA simply backed FNLA because Soviets were backing the MPLA.
What was the USA’s thinking towards South Africa?
USA continued to covertly supply military assistance to the FNLA, due to the escalation of Cuban military aid and the connections the Soviet Union had with this.
But the USA could not continue to do this, as this would have aligned it with SA, which was also aiding and supporting FNLA campaign. Black Africa was challenging the vestigates of white minority rule across the continent and there was growing international condemnation of apartheid in South Africa= political liability.
What were the USA’s concerns regarding action in Angola?
- they had no effective counter-action to stop the MPLA benefiting from Soviet and Cuban aid.
- Kissinger was concerned over the USA’s apparent failure to take decisive and effective action in Angola. Regarded as a lack of determination to counter similar com interventions in the future
“first time that the United States had failed to respond to Soviet military moves outside the immediate Soviet orbit” - threat to detente
- detente could not survive if either side gained a unilateral advantage.
-Kissinger believed Soviets were using the Cubans.
What was position of the Soviets in relation to Angola?
Due to the Sino-Soviet split in 1961 the Soviet priority in 1974 was to ensre that China did not gain at the USSR’s expense in ngola.
Could not appear to be less able and less willing than the Chinese to support national liberation movements in developing nations.
Neto believed that SU’s compliance with detente had forged a link between the USSR and the USA weakening Soviet credibility in Angola.
What was the Soviet perception of US and Chinese action in Angola?
Viewed it as a strategy aimed at gaining influence in developing countries.
Angola= springboard for collective influence increase.
Wanted to undermine influence of both China and USA.
(Kissinger himself admitted that USA and CHina had ‘parallel’ interests in Angola, but were not coordinating their actions)
