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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Caribbean Islands
Index
In an effort to break out of its isolation and expand its
influence in the Western Hemisphere, Cuba began a diplomatic and
propaganda offensive in the early 1970s that included the
Commonwealth Caribbean. Despite their concerns over Cuban
subversive activities, as well as growing Soviet-Cuban ties and
Cuba's intervention in Angola, the four newly independent
Commonwealth Caribbean states--Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and
Trinidad and Tobago--defied both the United States and the
Organization of American States and established relations with Cuba
in December 1972. Cuba subsequently established technical and
commercial exchanges with Guyana and even closer ties with the
Michael Manley government in Jamaica. Cuba's relations with the
Manley government helped provide the Castro regime with the
diplomatic support that it sought in Third World forums. The Manley
and Castro governments became increasingly active in the Nonaligned
Movement and were outspoken on Third World issues; both signed
numerous agreements during the decade. Cuba also opened diplomatic
ties with the Bahamas in 1976 but failed to make any further
diplomatic advances in the Commonwealth Caribbean until Maurice
Bishop seized power in Grenada in 1979.
Cuba's political offensive made use of Cuban cultural exports
and "solidarity brigades" of teachers, doctors, engineers, and
advisers to local political groups. Unable to serve as a
development model, however, Cuba provided only revolutionary
legitimacy and the means for seizing power. By the late 1970s, the
Commonwealth Caribbean islands, particularly Jamaica, were clearly
a principal focus of Cuban subversive efforts in the region (see
Regional Security Threats, 1970-81, this ch.).
In addition to being concerned by Cuba's subversive activities
in the Caribbean region and its close ties with Jamaica in the
1970s, the United States became increasingly concerned by Cuba's
growing military capabilities. American military analysts noted
that these capabilities posed potential threats not only to the
Commonwealth Caribbean islands but also to the Caribbean sea-lanes.
Furthermore, Cuba developed a growing capability in the 1980s to
carry out amphibious operations against the Eastern Caribbean
ministates. The Cuban navy's acquisition in 1982 of two Polnocnyclass amphibious landing ships from the Soviet Union, in addition
to its smaller amphibious craft, gave Cuba the capability to place
an initial assault force of about 1,000 soldiers, with either tanks
or artillery support, on nearby island nations. In its 1986
Handbook on the Cuban Armed Forces, the United States
Defense Intelligence Agency estimated that the Cuban air force and
civil air fleet could land a force of 15,000 to 25,000 combat
soldiers anywhere in the Caribbean Basin region within 2 to 3 weeks
and have important elements in place within a few hours. Cuban
merchant marine and fishing vessels also could transport personnel
to any country in the Caribbean. The former has engaged in
extensive training exercises for that very purpose. The United
States is the only regional power with the means to repel such
attacks.
Writing about choke-point warfare and interdiction in the Gulf
of Mexico and the Caribbean in 1887, Mahan stated that strategy was
a study of positions and that positions should be considered for
both their military and their commercial value. After a study of
the passages, islands, and harbors of Cuba, he concluded that the
island not only was an exemplary haven for submarines and torpedo
boats but also held the key to the entire Caribbean Basin. By the
mid-1980s, Cuba had the military capabilities to interdict vital
sea-lanes in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and to control key
passages. Cuba's strategic location between the Yucatán Channel and
the Straits of Florida places the island in an excellent blocking
position.
With extensive funds, equipment, and advice provided by the
Soviet Union between 1978 and 1982, Cuba has built a modern air
force, navy, and army with offensive interdiction capabilities. The
Cuban air force's inventory of over 200 Soviet jet fighter-bombers
and interceptors in the mid-1980s far surpassed the other air
forces in the Caribbean Basin region. Nevertheless, Cuba's three
squadrons of MiG-23s, with their 520-nautical-mile (964-kilometer)
range, were capable of striking only three Commonwealth Caribbean
members--Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands--as
well as Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and the Dominican
Republic) and part of the Florida peninsula. The fact that all of
the Eastern Caribbean islands and Venezuela are outside this range
may help to explain why the 3,048-meter Point Salines runway in
Grenada would have been of strategic value to the Cubans and
Soviets.
The Cuban navy also posed a significant potential threat to
sea-lanes in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. As a result of the
acquisition of two Koni-class submarine warfare frigates in the
early 1980s, the Cuban navy developed an ocean antiship capability
for the first time. Cuba demonstrated its ability to project an
offensive operation into the Caribbean in a May 1983 exercise. The
Cuban antiship capability also included three Foxtrot-class diesel
submarines and two highly capable kinds of missile patrol boats:
Styx missile-equipped Osa-I- and Osa-II-class torpedo hydrofoils.
These warships enabled the navy to conduct operations throughout
the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and, to a limited degree, in the
Atlantic. The Cuban navy probably would use its Foxtrot-class
submarines and missile attack boats as the primary means of
disrupting the sea-lanes. These craft would be supported both by
the Koni-class frigates and by the land-based aircraft of the Cuban
air force. The navy's interdiction efforts could be augmented by
vessels of the merchant and fishing fleets, which could deploy sea
mines in the sea-lanes. The use of Cuba to support Soviet naval
units was demonstrated in early October 1986 when a Cuban ship went
to the rescue of a Soviet Yankee-class nuclear submarine that
caught fire in the Atlantic and sank before it could be towed to
Cuba.
Data as of November 1987
- Caribbean Islands-Historical Background
- Caribbean Islands-Prosperity and Government Centralization, 1974-81
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Turks and Caicos Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 7 - Strategic and Regional Security Perspectives
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-A Regional Security System
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Other Third World Relations
- Caribbean Islands-SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: St - Christopher and Nevis ST - CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
- Caribbean Islands-The Penal System
- Caribbean Islands-The Soviet Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Colonial Heritage HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Antigua and Barbuda ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- Caribbean Islands-The Public Security Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Political Systems
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Changes in the Social Base of Political Power POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Agricultural Sector
- Caribbean Islands-The Barbados Defence Force
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-The Police
- Caribbean Islands-The Robinson Government
- Caribbean Islands-United States Preeminence
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Energy
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-POLITICAL TRADITIONS
- Caribbean Islands-THE STRATEGIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-Industrial Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-THE COLONIAL PERIOD
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Communist Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Natural Gas
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Incidence of Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Barbados BARBADOS
- Caribbean Islands-The Road to Independence
- Caribbean Islands-PREFACE
- Caribbean Islands -CHAPTER 3 - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-World War II
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreword
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Postwar Strategic Vacuum
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Regional Security Threats, 1970-81
- Caribbean Islands-Controversial Security Issues
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Assistance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Banking, Financial Services, and Currency
- Caribbean Islands-HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1800-1960
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Williams Era, 1981-86
- Caribbean Islands-The Armed Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 6 - The Northern Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Finance and Banking
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: CAYMAN ISLANDS BRITISH DEPENDENCIES: THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: MONTSERRAT
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation, Communications, and Electricity
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Petroleum and Asphalt
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Pre-European Population HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: The Bahamas THE BAHAMAS
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Dominica DOMINICA
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Trade and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 1 - Regional Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Organizations
- Caribbean Islands-Revenues
- Caribbean Islands-THE REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Construction
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-ISLANDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: ANGUILLA
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-INTRODUCTION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Current Strategic Considerations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Narcotics Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Petrochemicals
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Emancipation Societies
- Caribbean Islands-The West Indies Federation, 1957-62
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Precursors of Independence
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-The Criminal Justice System
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Economic Policy and Management
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Political Unrest and Economic Troubles, 1970-73
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 5 - The Leeward Islands
- Caribbean Islands -Chapter 2 - Jamaica
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Cuban Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Increased Role of the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation and Communications
- Caribbean Islands-Country profile: Grenada GRENADA
- Caribbean Islands-Iron and Steel
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Postwar Federation Efforts
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands-Consolidation and Economic Hardship, 1962-69
- Caribbean Islands-Patterns of Development
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
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