Cold War Influence in Latin America
Cold War Influence in Latin America
The United States and the Soviet Union competed against each other during the Cold War in the second half of the 20th Century like a chess game, with the world as their chessboard and countries as pawns in their game. For the Russians, a critical part of the chessboard was Cuba and Latin America. The Russians believed that if they could align themselves with countries in the western hemisphere, America’s “backyard”, it would help the Soviet Union counter the strong political influence and military presence America had in Europe, which made the Russians feel threatened. The Soviet Union tried to align itself politically, militarily, and economically with as many Latin American countries as it could. In response, the U.S. attempted to block Russia’s efforts. America supported Latin American governments which were anti-communist, and pressured communist governments and even toppling several communist or social leaders. The meddling by Soviet Russia and the U.S. in these counties caused social, political and economic damage to the affected Latin American countries such as Cuba, Guatemala and Chile, which lasted for decades. A source that describes U.S. policies in Guatemala during the early part of the Cold War is a secret (now declassified) CIA Study written in 1995 by Gerald K. Hines, a CIA history staff analyst. The Study is entitled “CIA and Guatemala Assassination Proposals 1952-154.” Hines’ Study is based upon secret internal CIA records from the 1950’s. Although the Study does not appear to be addressed to or directed at any particular person or group, it seems its purpose was to inform CIA agency officials in the 1990’s about the level of CIA involvement in attempted assassinations of pro-communist Guatemalan political leaders in the early part of the Cold War. In the Study, Haines explains that the U.S. became concerned that Guatemala was becoming a communist country after Jocobo Arbenz became President of Guatemala in 1951
The United States and the Soviet Union competed against each other during the Cold War in the second half of the 20th Century like a chess game, with the world as their chessboard and countries as pawns in their game. For the Russians, a critical part of the chessboard was Cuba and Latin America. The Russians believed that if they could align themselves with countries in the western hemisphere, America’s “backyard”, it would help the Soviet Union counter the strong political influence and military presence America had in Europe, which made the Russians feel threatened. The Soviet Union tried to align itself politically, militarily, and economically with as many Latin American countries as it could. In response, the U.S. attempted to block Russia’s efforts. America supported Latin American governments which were anti-communist, and pressured communist governments and even toppling several communist or social leaders. The meddling by Soviet Russia and the U.S. in these counties caused social, political and economic damage to the affected Latin American countries such as Cuba, Guatemala and Chile, which lasted for decades. A source that describes U.S. policies in Guatemala during the early part of the Cold War is a secret (now declassified) CIA Study written in 1995 by Gerald K. Hines, a CIA history staff analyst. The Study is entitled “CIA and Guatemala Assassination Proposals 1952-154.” Hines’ Study is based upon secret internal CIA records from the 1950’s. Although the Study does not appear to be addressed to or directed at any particular person or group, it seems its purpose was to inform CIA agency officials in the 1990’s about the level of CIA involvement in attempted assassinations of pro-communist Guatemalan political leaders in the early part of the Cold War. In the Study, Haines explains that the U.S. became concerned that Guatemala was becoming a communist country after Jocobo Arbenz became President of Guatemala in 1951