Angola, Ethiopia, Chila, Nicaragua, Grenada

Impact of Cuba on Angola and Ethiopia

The Cold War extended beyond Asia and Europe to other parts of the world. The USSR wanted to extend their sphere of influence in African in colonial countries and attempt to assist them in any ‘liberation movements’.

Background to events in Angola

In the 1960s Portugal governed Angola as part of their African colonies.
Angola was costly to maintain and after the 1974 Portuguese revolution, the right-wing government was overthrown and the new government immediately promised independence to Angola.
An interim coalition government was formed to assist Angola in achieving full independence.
- The coalition was formed in 1975 of the Marxist MPLA, the nationalist FNLA and the FNLA’s offshoot group UNITA.

Angolan Civil War

The MPLA and FNLA entered into a civil war after this.
The MPLA and the FNLA both received foreign assistance.
The MPLA was a Marxist Party which received arms and aid from the USSR, military advisers from China and 36,000 troops from Cuba.
The FNLA was a pro-American party and it received $300,000 dollars from the CIA, military advisers and aid from China, aid from Zaire and support from South Africa.
The MPLA won the civil war and created the People’s Republic of Angola (PRA) which was formally recognised by other African countries in 1976 and the USA in January 1977.

Cuba and the USSR in Angola

Cuba continued to support Angola and in 1988 stationed 52,000 troops in Angola.
They also provided military aid (if required), experts to assist with infrastructure development, healthcare and education.
The USSR wanted to assist the MPLA due to their Marxist nature and didn’t want the country to be influenced by Chinese communism.
The USSR also was concerned that the Americans and Chinese were becoming too close by both supporting the FNLA.
The USSR saw interference in Angola in line with détente and simply helping a struggling nation achieve their liberation.

American involvement in Angola

America did not stay involved in the issue of Angola as they believed that any intervention would be seen negatively by the American people and would be too costly.
Kissinger was concerned that the lack of US intervention could show apathy with revolution.
- Under President Carter, the US policy changed.

Chinese involvement in Angola

China, consistent with its revolutionary policy saw it their responsibility to help Angola.
China didn’t want to support the USSR’s growing expansionism in Africa, especially as their relationship was weakening.
Initially they supported both sides before choosing to support the FNLA.
China withdrew support from the FNLA in 1975 once the USA and South Africa became heavily involved.

Impact of Cuban intervention in Ethiopia

In 1974, the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown by the Marxist-Leninist regime led by Colonel Mariam.
War between Ethiopia and Somalia began 3 years later after Somalia re-took the territory that Britain gave Ethiopia after WW2.
Somalia invaded Ethiopia in July 1977.
Mariam appealed for support from the USSR and Cuba.
In February 1978, 15,000 troops were sent to Ethiopia by Cuba. Somalian troops retreated and agreed to a ceasefire a month later.
The USA accused the USSR of using Cuba to extend communist influence in Africa. Relations between the USA and Cuba were damaged as a result.

Impacts of US Intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean

The USA was always concerned about the spread of communism in the Caribbean and Latin America as they didn’t want communism spreading to ‘their own backyard’. The USA was willing to intervene in any regimes which may be communist.

Chile

In 1970, Salvador Allende was elected President of Chile.
- Allende achieved this despite the USA attempting to stage a coup to rid him of power as he was a socialist.
- Allende nationalised industry, particularly copper and banking.
In response, the USA blocked the World Bank from lending to Chile and withdrew all economic aid.
- This resulted in inflation, a decline in industrial output, unemployment and stagnation in agriculture.
- This led to strikes and riots, with Augusto Pinochet staging a successful military coup. Allende was overthrown and by 1973, Chile had plunged into a brutal dictatorship.

Grenada

In 1979, the leftist New Jewel Movement banned all other political parties and accepted aid from both the USSR and Cuba.
In 1983, Bernard seized power in a military coup.
The USA sent 70,000 troops to Grenada in order to supposedly protect US students there.
The actions taken by the USA enraged the USSR who saw this as an act of American Imperialism.
- This caused the USSR to walk out of the Geneva talks. Britain also condemned US actions on what was a British colony, but the special relationship with America remained.

Nicaragua and Carter

In June 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), led by Daniel Ortega seized power in Nicaragua.
President Carter recognised the FSLN government and provided assistance in an aim to keep Nicaragua in the Western sphere of influence.

Nicaragua and Reagan

This changed in 1981 when President Reagan took over and supported the anti-communist group in Nicaragua, the Contras.
The USA gave the Contras funds, equipment and training.
The USA also made illegal arms sales with Iran with the intention of using profits to purchase arms for the Contras.
In March 1982, the Sandinistas imposed censorship, restrictions on civil liberties and military conscription.
Nicaragua continued to be a source of concern for Reagan but had limited significance for the wider Cold War.

Historical interpretations

Journalist and author Stephen Kinzer (2006) argues that in the 1964 Chilean election, America backed Frei because they wanted to keep his opponent, Allende, out of power. The CIA supported Frei by putting $3 million into his budget. This amount came to 50% of Frei's total election budget.

Historical interpretation cont

According to Stephen Kinzer (2006), Chilean ambassador Korry suggested US banks stopped giving short term credit to any Chilean businesses to provoke chaos. They hoped this would result in a coup. The Chilean credit rating plummeted from B to D. The USA also persuaded World Bank to cancel a $21m loan to Chile for livestock improvement. This was referred to as an ‘invisible blockade’

1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9

1.1Events of 1945

1.1.1The Grand Alliance

1.1.2Yalta Conference

1.1.3Potsdam Conference

1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance

1.2.1Communism in the 20th Century

1.2.2Relations between Roosevelt, Stalin & Attlee

1.2.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Origins of the Cold War

1.3Developing Tensions

1.3.1USSR Actions

1.3.2Long Telegram & Iron Curtain Speech

1.3.3Cominform

1.3.4Greek Civil War & the Truman Doctrine

1.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Developing Tensions

1.4US Involvement in Europe

1.4.1US Policy Towards Britain & Europe

1.4.2US Attitudes Towards Germany & Berlin

1.4.3The Marshall Plan

1.5Conflict over Germany

1.5.1Sectors & Bizonia

1.5.2The Berlin Blockade

1.5.3The Formation of NATO, April 1949

1.5.4A-A* (AO3/4) - US Involvement in Europe

2Widening of the Cold War

2.1US Containment in Asia

2.1.1Japan

2.1.2China & Taiwan

2.2The Korean War

2.2.1Causes & Military Action in Korean War

2.2.2Attitudes of the USSR, China & the USA

2.2.3Panmunjon Armistice & Impact of the Korean War

2.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Widening of the Cold War

2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953

2.3.1McCarthyism & The 'Red Scare'

2.3.2USA Dominance in the United Nations

2.4Global Alliances

2.4.1Global Alliances in Europe & Asia

2.4.2Eisenhower, Brinkmanship & Domino Theory

2.4.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Tensions & Alliances

3The Global War

3.1Khrushchev

3.1.1Polish & Hungarian Uprisings 1956

3.1.2East-West Relations

3.2Cold War Rivalries

3.2.1Arms Race & Space Race

3.2.2Berlin Crisis & The Berlin Wall

3.2.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Khrushchev

3.3Conflict in Asia

3.3.1Indo-China

3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers

3.4.1Relations Between the USA & Cuba

3.4.2The Cuban Missile Crisis & its Significance

4Confrontation & Cooperation

4.1Vietnam

4.1.1Johnson

4.1.2Nixon

4.1.3Paris Peace Talks

4.2Cooperation

4.2.1Khrushchev & Kennedy

4.3Pressures on the USSR

4.3.1Czechoslovakia

4.3.2A-A* (AO3/4) - Confrontation & Cooperation

5Brezhnev Era

5.1Detente

5.1.1Settlements

5.1.2Detente up to 1979

5.2Second Cold War

5.2.1Renewed Hostilities

5.3Developments in Africa & Americas

5.3.1Angola, Ethiopia, Chila, Nicaragua, Grenada

5.3.2A-A* (AO3/4) - Brezhnev Era

6Ending of the Cold War

6.1Gorbachev

6.1.1Gorbachev & Reforms

6.2Cooperation between US & USSR

6.2.1Key Figures & Summits

6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe

6.3.1Significance of 1989

6.4End of Tensions Across the World

6.4.1Africa, Afghanistan & the Americas

6.4.2Malta Summit & the Aftermath

6.4.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Ending of the Cold War

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