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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Caribbean Islands
Index
United States hegemony in the Caribbean in the twentieth
century had remained until the Cuban revolution in 1959, an event
that made the Soviet Union recognize the vulnerability of America's
"backyard." By 1962 the Soviet Union had established a military
outpost in Cuba and later that year began to emplace strategic
missiles on the island. Although forced to withdraw the missiles as
a result of the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962, the Soviets
retained a combat brigade there. The Soviet Union also began to
devise a more sophisticated strategy designed to exploit the new
opportunities opened up by the Cuban revolution, but without
risking another direct military confrontation with the United
States. The main objectives of the new Soviet strategy in the
Caribbean region, as assessed by American analysts, were to erode
American influence further, expand Soviet influence and power,
establish Soviet proxies, expand Soviet military and intelligence
facilities and capabilities, make the United States withdraw from
other parts of the world in an effort to consolidate defense of its
vulnerable southern flank, and complicate American defense planning
by increasing the sea-denial capabilities of the Soviet Union and
its proxies.
In the early 1960s, the Soviet Union reportedly also began
preparing for future naval activity in the Caribbean region by
using its oceanographic research fleet to survey the area around
Cuba and the Mona, Windward, and Anegada passages. The resulting
data facilitated the Soviet attempt to develop surface and
underwater weapons, surveillance systems, antisubmarine warfare,
mine warfare, and amphibious landing data. Meanwhile, Soviet
merchant vessels opened the Caribbean to Soviet maritime power.
Seventy-eight Soviet merchant vessels were reported sighted in
1963; by 1968 the number had increased to 247 ships.
Prior to Castro's seizure of power, Soviet naval warships
rarely visited the Western Hemisphere. They first entered the
Caribbean region in July 1969 but caused little concern in the
United States because world attention at the time was focused on
the Apollo 11 moon landing. The Soviet military presence in the
Western Hemisphere became more pronounced during the 1970s. The
completion of the Soviet submarine base at Cienfuegos on Cuba's
southern coast in 1970 (under the guise of a sugar terminal)
allowed nuclear-powered and conventionally powered Golf-class
submarines of the Soviet Union and later Cuba to begin operating in
Caribbean waters. In the spring of 1970, the Caribbean played an
important role in the Soviet Union's first global naval exercise,
Okean-70. In addition, the first Soviet Tu-95 Bear D reconnaissance
and antisubmarine aircraft landed in Cuba that April. Since 1975
these aircraft have operated out of the San Antonio de los Banos
airfield and, beginning in September 1982, along the eastern coast
of the United States and in the Caribbean. In 1983 Tu-142 Bear F
aircraft began using the same airfield, marking another gradual
improvement in Soviet antisubmarine warfare capability in the
region. During the 1969-86 period, twenty-six Soviet task forces
were deployed to the Caribbean, and almost all of them visited
Cuban ports, usually Havana and Cienfuegos. The early deployments
included port visits to Jamaica and Barbados.
According to the United States Department of Defense, the
Soviet naval deployments are used to show the flag in the Caribbean
and occasionally in the Gulf of Mexico and to exercise with Cuban
navy and air force units. The Soviets have deployed a wide range of
ships and submarines, including guided missile cruisers, guided
missile frigates, destroyers, and nuclear-powered cruise missile
and attack submarines.
The Soviet Union traditionally has viewed the Caribbean as
America's "strategic rear," according to American academic and
military specialists on Soviet naval strategy. Cuba has served
Soviet interests not only by promoting activities inimical to
American and Commonwealth Caribbean interests, such as narcotics
smuggling, regional subversion, support for radical regimes, and
military intervention in Africa, but also by developing into a
potential military threat in the event of war. Soviet strategy in
the Caribbean region has called for gaining control, directly or
indirectly, over the four major choke points in the region's sealanes , as well as developing the capability to interdict the major
maritime routes transiting the area.
The German U-boat threat in the Caribbean during World War II
clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of the Caribbean sea-lanes
to interdiction and of the refineries to attack. The Nazi
submarines wreaked havoc on shipping even though they were few in
number, never totaling more than a dozen, and operated in the area
without benefit of friendly regional ports or air cover. Moreover,
during the war the United States could avail itself fully of Cuba
as a naval base and source of supply. By contrast, in the event of
a general war in the late 1980s, Soviet and Cuban submarines
operating from Cuba would have advantages that the Germans lacked.
The Soviet nuclear submarine base in Cienfuegos would make the
island a potential base for submarine warfare in the Caribbean.
Furthermore, since the 1970s the Soviets have tracked the movement
of United States warships from the Soviet signals intelligence
collection facility in Lourdes, Cuba. Given these advantages,
American naval analysts believe that, in the event of a major war
Soviet and Cuban submarines might succeed in cutting off the four
main choke points in the Caribbean, interdicting American shipping
heading eastward from the Persian Gulf to the western coast of the
United States, and attacking the United States mainland.
The Soviet choke-point strategy may help to explain why the
Soviets apparently coveted Grenada, a small island with no
significant resources. In 1983, when Maurice Bishop was still in
power in Grenada, United States government military strategists
feared that use of the island in conjunction with bases in Cuba and
Nicaragua would enable the Soviet Union to project tactical power
over the entire Caribbean Basin. According to this scenario, in the
event of a major war Soviet-controlled air and naval forces
operating from all three of these countries would have an ideal
capability for sabotaging the United States-NATO "swing strategy"
through harassment of the NATO supply lines. According to American
naval analysts, Soviet strategy projected that Cuba- and Nicaraguabased Soviet forces would engage in persistent harassment and seadenial operations in an effort to close the four major choke points
in the Caribbean sea-lanes.
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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