Cuban military internationalism

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Cuban artillerymen in Ethiopia during the Ogaden War, 1977. Cubans in Ogaden1.JPG
Cuban artillerymen in Ethiopia during the Ogaden War, 1977.

Cuban foreign policy during the Cold War emphasized providing direct military assistance to friendly governments and resistance movements worldwide. [1] This policy was justified directly by the Marxist concept of proletarian internationalism and was first articulated by Cuban leader Fidel Castro at the Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America in 1966. [2] However, as an informal policy it had been adopted as early as 1959, shortly after the Cuban Revolution. [2] It formed the basis for a number of Cuban military initiatives in Africa and Latin America, often carried out in direct conjunction with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact member states which provided advisory or logistical support. [3] These operations were often planned by the Cuban general staff through an overseas headquarters known as an internationalist mission. [1]

Contents

Military internationalism formed the crux of Cuba's foreign and military policy for almost three decades, and was subordinate only to domestic defense needs. [2] Its support for resistance movements in Central America contributed to Cuba's diplomatic isolation in that region and was instrumental in triggering its suspension from the Organization of American States. [2] Internationalist operations ranged from varying degrees of covert activity and espionage to the open commitment of combat troops on a large scale. [2] The Cuban military presence in Africa was especially notable, with up to 50,000 troops being deployed to Angola alone. [4]

Cuban forces in Africa were mainly black and mulatto. [5] Castro justified the use of the armed forces on the African continent as a result of the debt Cuba owed Africa due to its participation in the Atlantic slave trade and the contributions patriotic black Cubans had made to the Cuban War of Independence. [6] Internationalist missions were perceived by the Cuban government as one means of combating the global influence of the United States by proxy, and Cuba's opponents during these efforts were often decried as American pawns. [7] Likewise, the US government and its allies perceived the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) as a Soviet proxy, and the use of internationalist missions as a means to indirectly increase Soviet military influence worldwide. [8] There were also more practical reasons for deploying Cuban troops abroad, such as giving the relatively inexperienced armed forces combat experience across a wide range of theaters. [6]

By the mid 1980s, a quarter of Cuba's total military strength was committed to its internationalist missions, fighting with socialist governments or factions in various civil conflicts. [8] At least 200,000 Cuban citizens had served overseas with the FAR in a number of capacities. [6] Military internationalism ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, which curtailed much-needed Soviet logistical and financial support needed to sustain Cuba's foreign expeditions. [6] The FAR terminated all its major overseas commitments between September 1989 and May 1991. [9]

Origin

Following the success of the Cuban Revolution, the 26th of July Movement assumed power in Havana and began revising the country's foreign policy. [2] Many of its leading members, including Fidel Castro, believed that Cuba held a special place in the vanguard of international revolutionary movements and began pursuing the active support of revolutionaries in other countries. [2] Castro's interest in revolutionary causes extended beyond Cuba's shores, as he had previously participated in the 1948 Bogotazo riots and was sympathetic towards anti-government forces in the Dominican Republic. [2] Support for revolutions abroad thus became an integral part of the radical new Cuban regime's policies, long before it embraced socialism or diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. [2] Approximately 1,000 Cubans fought in Spain in the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War (nearly all of them in the Communist ranks of the International Brigades). [10]

On April 24, 1959, about 80 militants, including a number of Cuban revolutionaries, landed in Panama during a short-lived attempt to overthrow that country's government. [2] The expedition failed and they were arrested after a skirmish with the Panamanian National Guard. [11] Castro held the expedition had been carried out without his foreknowledge and denied all involvement. [2] This led to the establishment of the so-called "Panama precedent", by which the Cuban government agreed that its support for revolution would not supersede relations with other states that were otherwise friendly (in this case, Panama). [2] However, Castro reserved the right to intervene in any country plagued by tyranny or despotism. [2]

List of internationalist operations

Cuban PT-76 tank in the streets of Luanda, Angola, 1976. Cuban PT-76 Angola.JPG
Cuban PT-76 tank in the streets of Luanda, Angola, 1976.

The FAR officially recognizes 5 military interventions of Cuba: in Algeria, Syria, Congo, Angola, and Ethiopia. [12] However other sources expand the list including Nicaragua. This list only includes the sending of Cuban military personnel as regular forces recognized as belligerents between the States. Military invasions are added separately for coup purposes.

Failed invasions

See also

Related Research Articles

The island of Cuba was inhabited by various Amerindian cultures prior to the arrival of the explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492. After his arrival, Spain conquered Cuba and appointed Spanish governors to rule in Havana. The administrators in Cuba were subject to the Viceroy of New Spain and the local authorities in Hispaniola. In 1762–63, Havana was briefly occupied by Britain, before being returned to Spain in exchange for Florida. A series of rebellions between 1868 and 1898, led by General Máximo Gómez, failed to end Spanish rule and claimed the lives of 49,000 Cuban guerrillas and 126,000 Spanish soldiers. However, the Spanish–American War resulted in a Spanish withdrawal from the island in 1898, and following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba gained formal independence in 1902.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Cuba</span> Overview of the foreign relations of Cuba

Cuba's foreign policy has been fluid throughout history depending on world events and other variables, including relations with the United States. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner, Cuba became increasingly isolated in the late 1980s and early 1990s after the fall of the USSR and the end of the Cold War, but Cuba opened up more with the rest of the world again starting in the late 1990s when they have since entered bilateral co-operation with several South American countries, most notably Venezuela and Bolivia beginning in the late 1990s, especially after the Venezuela election of Hugo Chávez in 1999, who became a staunch ally of Castro's Cuba. The United States used to stick to a policy of isolating Cuba until December 2014, when Barack Obama announced a new policy of diplomatic and economic engagement. The European Union accuses Cuba of "continuing flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms". Cuba has developed a growing relationship with the People's Republic of China and Russia. Cuba provided civilian assistance workers – principally medical – to more than 20 countries. More than one million exiles have escaped to foreign countries. Cuba's present foreign minister is Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fidel Castro</span> Leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2008. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1965 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and socialist reforms were implemented throughout society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces</span> Military forces of Cuba

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces are the military forces of Cuba. They include Revolutionary Army, Revolutionary Navy, Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Troops Militia, Youth Labor Army, and the Defense and Production Brigades, plus the Civil Defense Organization and the National Reserves Institution. All these groups are subordinated to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban Revolution</span> 1953–59 rebellion against the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro

The Cuban Revolution was a military and political effort to overthrow the government of Cuba between 1953 and 1959. It began after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état which placed Fulgencio Batista as head of state. After failing to contest Batista in court, Fidel Castro organized an armed attack on the Cuban military's Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953. The rebels were arrested and while in prison formed the 26th of July Movement. After gaining amnesty the M-26-7 rebels organized an expedition from Mexico on the Granma yacht to invade Cuba. In the following years the M-26-7 rebel army would slowly defeat the Cuban army in the countryside, while its urban wing would engage in sabotage and rebel army recruitment. Over time the originally critical and ambivalent Popular Socialist Party would come to support the 26th of July Movement in late 1958. By the time the rebels were to oust Batista the revolution was being driven by the Popular Socialist Party, 26th of July Movement, and the Revolutionary Directorate of March 13.

Arnaldo Tomás Ochoa Sánchez was a Cuban general who was executed by the government of Fidel Castro after being found guilty of a variety of crimes including drug smuggling and treason. Allegations from a former Castro bodyguard claimed that Ochoa was executed, and Interior Minister Jose Abrantes sentenced to a 20-year prison term, allegedly to cover up high level Castro brothers involvement in the drug smuggling trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogaden War</span> 1977–1978 war between Ethiopia and Somalia over Ogaden region

The Ogaden War, also known as the Ethio-Somali War, was a military conflict fought between Somalia and Ethiopia from July 1977 to March 1978 over the Ethiopian region of Ogaden. Somalia's invasion of the region, precursor to the wider war, met with the Soviet Union's disapproval, leading the superpower to end its support of Somalia and support Ethiopia instead.

Corps General Abelardo Colomé Ibarra was a Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba and the Cuban Minister of the Interior, serving in the latter position from 1989, until his retirement in October, 2015. Known as Furry he first laid the foundations of State Security in 1959.

The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was fought intermittently between 14 August 1987 and 23 March 1988, south and east of the town of Cuito Cuanavale, Angola, by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) and advisors and soldiers from Cuba, USSR, Vietnam, ANC and SWAPO against South Africa, and soldiers of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War. The battle was the largest engagement of the Angolan conflict and the biggest conventional battle on the African continent since World War II. UNITA and its South African allies defeated a major FAPLA offensive towards Mavinga, preserving the former's control of southern Angola. They proceeded to launch a failed counteroffensive on FAPLA defensive positions around the Tumpo River east of Cuito Cuanavale.

The Cuban Revolution was the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista's regime by the 26th of July Movement and the establishment of a new Cuban government led by Fidel Castro in 1959.

The military history of Cuba is an aspect of the history of Cuba that spans several hundred years and encompasses the armed actions of Spanish Cuba while it was part of the Spanish Empire and the succeeding Cuban republics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban intervention in Angola</span> Cuban operation in southwestern Africa

The Cuban intervention in Angola began on 5 November 1975, when Cuba sent combat troops in support of the communist-aligned People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) against the pro-western National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA). The intervention came after the outbreak of the Angolan Civil War, which occurred after the former Portuguese colony was granted independence after the Angolan War of Independence. The civil war quickly became a proxy war between the Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union and the Western Bloc led by the United States. South Africa and the United States backed UNITA and the FNLA, while communist nations backed the MPLA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angola–Cuba relations</span> Bilateral relations

During Angola's civil war, Cuban forces fought alongside the Marxist–Leninist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government; against the Western-backed National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) guerrillas who were aided by the South-African army. The present day outcome of the war resulted in the MPLA changing from a Marxist–Leninist party to a multi-party democratic system based on neoliberal principles. From an economic standpoint, Cuba has lost its preferred status among Angolans and South Africa has become the biggest single investor and trading partner with Angola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angola–Soviet Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Soviet–Angolan relations were close until the Angolan government renounced Marxist-Leninism in 1990 and adopted a pro-Western foreign policy. The close, personal relationship between President Agostinho Neto and Cuban leader Fidel Castro complicated the Soviet Union's involvement in the Angolan Civil War and foiled several assassination attempts against Neto.

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Proletarian internationalism, sometimes referred to as international socialism, is the perception of all proletarian revolutions as being part of a single global class struggle rather than separate localized events. It is based on the theory that capitalism is a world-system and therefore the working classes of all nations must act in concert if they are to replace it with communism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanks of Cuba</span> Battle tank use on the island of Cuba

Tanks have been utilized on the island of Cuba both within the military and within several conflicts, with their usage and origin after World War II; the Cold War; and the modern era. This includes imported Soviet tanks in the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces today as well as American and British designs imported prior to the Cuban Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign interventions by Cuba</span> Aspect of Cuban foreign policy

Cuba intervened into numerous conflicts during the Cold War. They sent medical and military aid into foreign countries to aid Socialist governments and rebel groups. These interventionist policies were controversial and resulted in isolation from many countries. Due to the ongoing Cold War, Cuba attempted make allies across Latin America and Africa. Cuba believed it had more freedom to intervene in Africa as the U.S. was more concerned about Latin America. Still, the US was strongly opposed to Cuban involvement in Africa and continued Cuban intervention was a major source of tension. Cuban intervention was often confidential and all Cuban doctors and soldiers were forced to keep their location confidential.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Africa–Soviet Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Africa–Soviet Union relations are the diplomatic, political, military, and cultural relationships between the Soviet Union and Africa from the 1945 to 1991. The Soviets took little interest until the decolonisation of Africa of the 1950s and early 1960s which created opportunities to expand their influence. Africans were not receptive to the Soviet model of socio-economic development. Instead, the Soviets offered financial aid, munitions, and credits for purchases from the Soviet bloc, while avoiding direct involvement in armed conflicts. Temporary alliances were secured with Angola and Ethiopia. The 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union left its successor state, Russia, with greatly diminished influence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuba–Ethiopia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Cuba–Ethiopia relations refers to the bilateral relations between Cuba and Ethiopia. Both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations.

References

  1. 1 2 Abreu, José (September 5, 2011). "El internacionalismo militar cubano en la historiografía de la isla" (in Spanish). Holguín: Radio Angulo. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Domínguez, Jorge (1989). To Make a World Safe for Revolution: Cuba's Foreign Policy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 114–120, 168–169. ISBN   978-0674893252.
  3. ↑ "La intervención militar cubana: manifestación del poder militar soviético en países del tercer mundo (1960–1993)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  4. ↑ Liebenberg, Ian; Risquet, Jorge; Shubin, Vladimir (1997). A Far-Away War: Angola, 1975–1989. Stellenbosch: Sun Media Press. p. 44, 64–68. ISBN   978-1-920689-72-8.
  5. ↑ Eckstein, Susan (1994). Back from the Future: Cuba Under Castro . Princeton University Press. p.  187.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Klepak, Hal (2006). Cuba's Military 1990–2005: Revolutionary Soldiers During Counter-Revolutionary Times. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan. pp. 45–48. ISBN   978-1403972026.
  7. ↑ Hatzky, Christine (2015). Cubans in Angola: South-South Cooperation and Transfer of Knowledge, 1976–1991. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 166–168. ISBN   978-0299301040.
  8. 1 2 Duignan, Peter; Gann, L.H (2008). Communism in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Reappraisal. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press. p. 19-23. ISBN   978-0817937126.
  9. ↑ Halperin, Maurice (1994). Return to Havana: The Decline of Cuban Society Under Castro . Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press. pp.  109–120. ISBN   0-8265-1250-X.
  10. ↑ Montaner (2001). Journey to the Heart of Cuba: Life as Fidel Castro . Algora Publishing. p.  13. ISBN   9781892941619.
  11. ↑ "Rubén Miró y la invasión de cubanos a Panamá" (in Spanish). Panama City: La Estrella de Panamá. April 22, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Sautié, Pedro; Pérez San Miguel, Alfredo. "Misiones militares internacionalistas cumplidas por las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de la República de Cuba" (in Spanish). Havana: Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ "The Historical Legacy and Current Implications of Cuban Military Internationalism".
  14. ↑ "The Cuban Army Abroad – Meet Castro's Foreign Cold Warriors". Archived from the original on 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  15. ↑ Farber, Samuel (2011). Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959: A Critical Assessment. Haymarket Books. p. 105.
  16. ↑ Africa, Problems & Prospects: A Bibliographic Survey. U.S. Department of the Army. 1977. p. 221.
  17. ↑ Horowitz, Irving Louis (1995). Cuban Communism/8th Editi. Transaction Publishers. p. 560.
  18. ↑ "Cuban Atrocities In Africa Cited". The Victoria Advocate. 5 August 1978.
  19. ↑ Historical Dictionary of Republic of the Congo. Scarecrow Press. 2012. p. 124.
  20. ↑ A Dictionary of 20th-Century Communism. Princeton University Press. 2012. p. 247.
  21. ↑ Nelson, Harold D. (1982). Somalia, a Country Study. Headquarters, Department of the Army. p. 246.
  22. ↑ "Ogaden War". GlobalSecurity.org.
  23. ↑ Kirk, J.; Erisman, H. Michael (2009). Cuban Medical Internationalism: Origins, Evolution, and Goals. Springer. p. 75.
  24. 1 2 Clapham, Christopher (1990). Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. CUP Archive. p. 235.
  25. 1 2 De Waal, Alexander (1991). Evil days : thirty years of war and famine in Ethiopia. Human Rights Watch. New York: Human Rights Watch. pp. 78–86. ISBN   1-56432-038-3. OCLC   24504262.
  26. ↑ "Las guerras secretas de Fidel Castro: Los sandinistas" (PDF). cubamatinal.com (in Spanish). August 30, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  27. ↑ "CONTRAS' ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS CITED". The New York Times. 1986-02-20. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  28. ↑ "Rubén Miró y la invasión de cubanos a Panamá" (in Spanish). Panama City: La Estrella de Panamá. April 22, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  29. ↑ Lora, J. Armando. "Invasión" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  30. ↑ "These are the military interventions of Cuba in other countries".
  31. ↑ Castañeda, Jorge G. (2009). Companero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 147.
  32. ↑ Flores, Victor (September 28, 2013). ""Los cubanos son los artífices del fraude electoral en Venezuela"". El País (in Spanish). Madrid: Ediciones El País. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
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