The century-long struggle to control the Caribbean's most strategic island

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From 19th-century purchase attempts to Cold War nuclear standoffs, the relationship between the United States and Cuba has been defined by intense economic interests and political volatility. What began as a desire for territorial expansion evolved into a complex era of embargoes, revolutions, and shifting diplomatic ties.

The roots of U.'S interest in Cuba were deeply embedded in the concept of Manifest Destiny. In the mid-1800s, American leaders viewed the island as a vital commercial asset. In 1848 and 1854, the U.S. attempted to purchase Cuba from Spain, with a 1840s mission even offering $100 million. Later, the 1847 Ostend Manifesto proposed a $130 million buyout, a plan that sparked scandal due to its pro-slavery implications.

The dynamic shifted from diplomacy to direct intervention following the Spanish-American War. After the sinking of the USS Maine, the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain renounce its rights to Cuba, leading to U.S. territorial control. While the Teller Amendment disavowed permanent sovereignty, the subsequent Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and established the naval base at Guantánamo Bay.

The 20th century brought radical political shifts. The U.S. initially supported the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, providing weapons and economic aid. However, the 1959 Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, fundamentally altered the landscape. Following the nationalization of U.S. oil assets—valued at approximately $1.7 billion—and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, relations entered a period of deep frost. This included a comprehensive trade embargo initiated in 1960 and the severing of diplomatic ties in 1961.

Though a brief 'Cuban thaw' occurred between 2015 and 2017 under Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro, relations have since deteriorated again. Today, the relationship remains strained by significant disagreements regarding human rights, trade policy, and the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a status held from 1982 to 2015 and again from 2021 onward.

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