Fidel Castro was named prime minister, supported
by students, urban and rural workers and young professionals
and he embarked on a host of reforms, affecting Cuba’s
economy, expropriating private property and farms and nationalizing
U.S.-owned petroleum refineries and other holdings. This only
served to further deteriorate the already shaky relations
between U.S. and Cuba – in fact, diplomatic relations
have ceased altogether ever since.
The island was in desperate need for economic support, especially
when the U.S. cut Cuban sugar imports. The U.S. also retaliated
by sending an army of 1400 Cuban expatriates trained by the
CIA and avid Batista supporters to attack the island at the
Bay of Pigs. The campaign was extremely unsuccessful. Castro,
who began voicing his support for socialist ideals, turned
to the Soviet Union for support, who responded immediately.
They not only sent food and supplies, but also nuclear war
heads, which led to increasing tensions with the U.S. and
the Soviet bloc, coming extremely close to disaster.
The only success Castro has had with regard to his policy
objectives was to provide adequate medical care for all Cubans,
regardless of social standing, as well as high quality education
for all citizens. However, Cuba is not a strong, self-sufficient
economy as Castro had hoped, and the island continues to struggle
economically.
Given Cuba’s intent on spreading revolutionary ideas
through guerilla warfare in Latin American countries at one
stage, most of these nations, except Mexico cut diplomatic
and economic ties with the island. These were later reassumed.
Ties with the Soviet Union diminished when Eastern Europe
collapsed.
