That’s sort of true but also..,, not? After that Cuban revolution, Cuba seized US owned assets such as oil production facilities and nationalized them without any compensation to the US or owners of those facilities. Then the US embargoed them. Now- it is more complex than that. There is a fair argument that the US gained those assets in less than fair ways and was exploiting Cuba and her people. The US had stopped oil exports to Cuba before the embargo as the revolution kicked off.
Lots more history. But let’s keep it simple. The revolutionaries espoused a communist ideal antithetical to US philosophy and interests and in direct opposition to the American government and country as it existed. Joining with our massive enemy who we were in enduring war with for global power balance and way of life- very existence even.
The US had sanctions and actions against other communist nations and had deployed military forces to combat communism in Asia at this point.
The US stance on communism was clear, and even if the US was not opposed to Cuban communism, the revolutionary government was very much anti American. Hostile.
So what was the US to do? Start another war? Regardless of “victors” that would certainly have cost lives and caused all manner of harm. Sanctions are a way to to avoid violent conflict by making your stances known and applying pressure without violence.
And it very much falls on the communists. Why? Because often- usually- when you sanction someone- they sanction back. The US sanctioned the Soviets and the Soviets sanctioned the US. The US managed without Soviet goods. How is the USSR doing…? Because the communists proposed this grand scheme of self sufficiency. Almost every communist country- Cuba included- kicked off their grand plan by purging various “elites” like intellectuals and pushing citizens to take up farming and “production” based jobs. They refocused their industries to nationalized self sufficient structures. And one after the other and in cycles they went through famine and scarcity. Their self sufficient economies were not sustainable and relied upon foreign aid not just for modern standards of living but basic survival.
Why would the US or any other country pump money into a hostile nation to support the growth of someone who openly is clear that when and if they ever got big enough- they’d try to kill you or overthrow you..?
What would the US get out of it? Some cigars? Another place to import oil from? Cuba needed medicines and food and raw materials, but what did the US need from Cuba? Spoiler alert- after almost 100 years of embargo… it seems not much.
It’s called leverage. You know who plays tough with someone who they need things from that doesn’t need anything from them? Generally- foolish.
If you don’t have leverage and try to exert leverage, you fall on your face.
The main leverage Cuba had was the USSR. The location of Cuba made it a strategic point at one time for exerting pressure on the USA and potentially a tactical vulnerability to the USA in a war against the USSR.
It was the backing of the USSR that in large part kept the USA away as a direct conflict with Cuba meant likely a conflict with the USSR.
The Soviets were using Cuba, exploiting it as a chess piece in a game against America. The revolution may have largely rid cuba of US exploitation and interference but it replaced it with Soviet interference and exploitation while turning Cuba into a pariah and potentially nuclear target where previously it was not likely one.
So while America is not the “good guy” in the modern world history of Cuba- bet that the Soviets and Cuban revolutionaries and various south and Central American or other communist powers involved in the Cuban revolution all have a lions share of the blame too.
Lots more history. But let’s keep it simple. The revolutionaries espoused a communist ideal antithetical to US philosophy and interests and in direct opposition to the American government and country as it existed. Joining with our massive enemy who we were in enduring war with for global power balance and way of life- very existence even.
The US stance on communism was clear, and even if the US was not opposed to Cuban communism, the revolutionary government was very much anti American. Hostile.
So what was the US to do? Start another war? Regardless of “victors” that would certainly have cost lives and caused all manner of harm. Sanctions are a way to to avoid violent conflict by making your stances known and applying pressure without violence.
What would the US get out of it? Some cigars? Another place to import oil from? Cuba needed medicines and food and raw materials, but what did the US need from Cuba? Spoiler alert- after almost 100 years of embargo… it seems not much.
It’s called leverage. You know who plays tough with someone who they need things from that doesn’t need anything from them? Generally- foolish.
The main leverage Cuba had was the USSR. The location of Cuba made it a strategic point at one time for exerting pressure on the USA and potentially a tactical vulnerability to the USA in a war against the USSR.
It was the backing of the USSR that in large part kept the USA away as a direct conflict with Cuba meant likely a conflict with the USSR.
So while America is not the “good guy” in the modern world history of Cuba- bet that the Soviets and Cuban revolutionaries and various south and Central American or other communist powers involved in the Cuban revolution all have a lions share of the blame too.