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Castro's Foreign Policy Aims - Coggle Diagram
Castro's Foreign Policy Aims
Relations with the Soviet Union
Political theory was always second to Castro's aim of preserving Cuban independence
He never allowed Soviet Ideology to influence him
Close ties with the USSR was only expendiency, as they were the only dependent supplier of fuel and purchaser of Cuban products.
Cuba's dependence on USSR meant that Castro had to put plans for liberation movement in Africa and Latin America on hold
He expected the soviets to back him fully in his anti-colonial campaign
soviet leaders were warry of confrontation with the US after the Missile Crisis and reluctant to further humiliation
they warned Castro not to make international difficulties and threatened to suspend soviet oil supplies to Cuba
as a result, self sufficiency was not achieved until the 1970s which allowed Castro to assume role as a leader of the developing world
Promoting revolution in other countries
Visited Chile in 1971 to support left wing government of Salvador Allende
his hoped of forming a Cuban-Chilean alliance were destroyed when Allende was overthrown in 1973
Sent hundreds of Cuban Military advisers to Angola in 1975, task was to work with Marxist rebels fighting a civil war against Angolan armies with US and apartheid SA backing
Increased commitment by sending 20,000 troops to join them
1957-77, Castro visited Guinea, Mozambique, Algeria, Somalia, Libya, Tanzania, Angola and Yemen to show support for Marxist Government or Marxist parties
Reception was uniformly enthusiastic
His travels abroad openly declared his position as leader of Cuba was totally secure
1979- turned his attention to revolutionary movements nearer home
gave Nicaraguan Sandinistas support in ousting their government
prestige of successes allowed him to be able to ignore criticism from Cuba residing in the US
Castro as head of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM)
Castro's reward for Cuban performance in Latin America and Africa was his election as president of the Non Aligned Movement in 1979
Was a recognition of his success in avoiding American Domination as well as maintaining Cuban independence from Soviet Control
As President of NAM he visited the UN in New York and won enthusiastic approval of majority of the leaders from developing nations
Castro's pragmatism in foreign affairs
Despite Adulation received over his UN speech, there was still criticism from some quarters
Colonel Qaddafi from Libya (backed by Brazil) expressed doubts over Castro's commitment to supporting the developing world
Accusation stung Castro strong and he sought to retain favor among Non aligned Countries
Declared support for Palestine in dispute with Israel despite having been on good terms with Israel
showed he was prepared to change attitude according to his circumstance
Inconsistency of his approach was evident in his support of Argentina's conservative military government in their dispute with the Falkland's.
inconsistencies in foreign policy did not damage Castro's reputation at home, defense of regional interests against the West added to his stature
Joined South American condemnation of Britain Military campaign in the falklands.
Suggested the help they gave was very selective, a sign of desire to interefere rather than hep
Foreign Policy and economic problems.
1980s - Reagan, anti communist wanted to maintain trade with Cuba
Gorbachev informed Castro that soviet reforms meant that Cuba could no longer enjoy customary economic concessions
Cuba was now alone, with their main purchaser gone, they entered the special period
1990 - 20th century : Castro continued to assert leadership in developing nations
While he never gave up on his socialism, he accepted that it had to be adjusted in accordance with global changes
His fear of Us Invaion never subsided, but he accepted that accomodating the US was necessary
Softened his anti us tone, allowed commercial agreements between the two
globalization and free trade was now the prevailing economic attitude, Cuba could not survive without accepting these trends
Frequently hosted gathering of Non aligned countries, made speeches virtuing the Cuban revolution
Bigger blow came with the disintegration for the soviet bloc and USSR as a whole