Developments in Africa and the Americas (20) Flashcards
Relations with Cuba?
After Cuban Missile Crisis, US-Cuban relations remained hostile
Cuba decided to export revolution as a main policy
Situation in Angola?
- Portuguese been fighting against Angolan nationalist since the 1960s
- The war had been long and costly so in April 1947 the right-wing government in Lisbon was overthrown and the new leftists promised independence for Angola
- The Portuguese tried to establish an interim Angolan government with the goal of eventual full independence in 1975
- The coalition government was made up of the MPLA (Marxists socialists) and the FNLA (Pro-US Nationalists)
- Once the Portuguese left in 1975 a civil war broke out in the Spring
Factions within Angola?
- June 1974 – Chinese sent 120 military advisers to aid the FNLA
- January 1975 – USA provided $300,000 in covert funding to the FNLA
- After the outbreak of Civil War in 1975, in July Kissinger convinced Ford to send $25 million in supplies and $16 million in arms to the FNLA.
- The USSR were sending arms and aid to the MPLA
- Cuba sent advisers to the MPLA in its support for revolutionary movements
- Zaire sent aid to the FNLA during the Civil War, determined to prevent a Marxist government from taking hold in its neighbouring state
- South Africa was concerned that if an MPLA government took power, the African National Congress (ANC) would have a base to attack the apartheid system in South Africa
- In October 1975, the FNLA supported by South African Forces, advanced towards the capital, Luanda. Cuban forces protected Luanda and in November won against the South Africans.
- By late January 1976 there were about 12,000 Cuban troops supporting the MPLA
Outcome of Angola?
March 1976 - MPLA achieve victory
Proclaimed the People’s Republic of Angola - recognised by other African States through the Organisation of African Unity in Feb 1976
October 1976 - USSR ratified a 20 year Treaty of Friendship
Under control of Agostinho Neto
Cuban forces leave 1977 - promised military aid in event of external threat - particularly SA
Cuban troops used to support suppression of pro-Soviet leader’s coup (Nito Alves)
In 1988 Cuba had an all time high of 52,000 troops in the country
Provided governmental advisors and educational scholarships in Cuba
Cuba secured a tight relationship with Angola and marginalised the USSR
USA’s Position in Angola?
President Ford was outraged by initial Soviet and Cuban interventions and banned the word ‘détente’ in August 1974 from his dictionary
By November 1975, the USA did not see Angola as direct threat to its economic and strategic interests
By doing nothing the USA:
Avoided the costs of intervention at a time it was preoccupied in Vietnam
Avoided international criticism and further irritation of the MPLA
In December, the Director of the CIA, William Colby stated that they initially backed the FNLA because ‘the Soviets are backing the MPLA’
Had to end affiliation with the FNLA as it was backed by SA which was internationally condemned for apartheid
There was some disadvantage to this:
Kissinger saw this as the ‘first time the US has failed to respond to Soviet military moves outside of the immediate Soviet orbit’ - undermined containment
Was going against detente as the USSR was gaining a unilateral advantage
Kissinger saw the Cubans as serving as Soviet proxy’s but after the Cold War realised that Castro was acting on his own
Soviet position in Angola?
Sino-Soviet Split 1961 - Soviet priority in 1974 was to ensure that the Chinese did not benefit in Angola and that the USSR was seen to be able to support revolutions better than China
In 1976 they announced that ‘we have fulfilled our intentional duty’
USSR saw the aid from both the USA and China as a result of better relations since 1971 and an attempt to develop their influences in the region
Kissinger in 1975 stated there was no ‘coordination’ in their aid
Wanted to expands its own influence and undermine that of both China and the USA
Situation in Ethiopia?
- The British awarded the traditionally Somali territory of Ogaden to Ethiopia after the Second World War
- Somali invaded Ogaden in July 1977 to retake the land it saw as its own
Ethiopian supporters?
- In 1974, the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie had been overthrown by Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, who established a Marxist-Leninist dictatorship
- He felt like he could apply for Soviet and Cuban support on ideological grounds even though the Soviet Union was supporting the Somalian regime at the time
- The Soviets withdrew support for the Somalian regime, and Castro decided in November 1977 to assist revolutionary movements by sending troops to Ethiopia.
- Brezhnev congratulated Castro on his policy.
- By February 1978, there were about 15,000 Cuban forces in Ethiopia.
- In March, the conflict ended when the Somali troops retreated and a truce was announced.
USA reaction to Ethiopia?
- USA accused Moscow of using Cuba in order to extend its own power in Africa.
- USA and Cuban rapprochement had been damaged
- This was a shame for Cuba as Jimmy Carter sought Détente with them
US policy in the Americas?
40 committee – group setup in 1970 by Richard Nixon’s administration – overall purpose was to initiate covert operations that were deemed to be in the USA’s national interest – immediate aim to prevent Allende becoming president
How did Allende come to power in Chile?
- 1970 election – Salvador Allende get 36% of votes – first freely elected-Marxist in Latin America – overthrown by US backed coup
- Plurality in September 1970 – decision goes to Congress – Nixon and Kissinger influence to not pick him + ask military if they would consider a coup if he got elected
- René Schneider - head of military – constitutionalist against military taking role in politics – assassinated in October 1970
- November 1970 – Allende becomes President
US influence in Chile?
- November 1970 – Allende becomes President – starts Marxist policies – seized millions of hectares of land seized and redistributed to farm co-operatives - hurts economy – leads to shortages and strikes - censors free press
- American businesses had significant interests in Chile’s copper and silver mines and a US company dominated Chile’s telecommunications system
- Nationalised the copper industry – worried USA
- USA allocates 40 committee funds to undermine Allende and influences World Bank not to finance Chile
- US influence worsened economy – inflation – industrial decline – increase in unemployment- strikes (some organised by CIA) – stimulated riots and social disorder
- September 11 1973 – Military surrounds house and he commits ‘suicide’
- Augusto Pinochet comes to power – runs by ‘Junta’ – military occupation - tyrant – Nixon happy at least because he is not communist – Marxist policies reversed
Events in Grenada?
- New Jewel Movement led a successful leftist revolution in 1979 – banned all other parties – accepted assistance from USSR and Cuba
- Run by Bernard Coard – ran the Coard faction in the Party – seized power for 3 days in October 1983 after a dispute with high ranking officials – overthrown by General Hudson Austin
- Little evidence that the island would become a pro-Soviet or Pro-Cuban government besides a few Cuban advisors
- Ronald Reagan feared that Grenada would become a communist base – assembled a 7000-strong invasion force – claimed to protect US medical students
Reactions to Grenada?
- USSR saw it as US imperialism and ordered Soviet advisors out of the Geneva arms talks
- Margaret Thatcher resented the fact that the US failed to consult the UK when invading a former-colony and Commonwealth country
- US had to use its veto power when censured by the UN security council
- Reagan made a speech on 27th October 1983, stating that Granada was a ‘Soviet-Cuban Colony’ used to ‘undermine democracy’
Fall of Nicaragua?
- Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) – led by Daniel Ortega Saavedra – seized power from General Anastasio Somoza in June 1979
- Carter recognised the government and provided assistance in the hopes of bringing back democracy, and preventing it tuning to Moscow
- Reagan saw them as Communists, similar to Cuba
