The US and Guantanamo Bay

Résumé du document

In 1898, the United States intervened the Caribbean and Pacific to fight against the Spanish imperialism. In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, the United States occupied Cuba from January 1899 to May 1902. On February 25, 1901, Senator Orville H. Platt introduced "the famous amendment that bears his name? (Aguilar 1972), which influenced the American intervention in Cuban affairs. It also proposed the creation of an American naval base in Cuba. The bill became a law on March 2. In spite of a strong opposition in the country, Cuba conceded that a restricted independence was better than a military regime (Aguilar 1972) and included the amendment in its 1901 Constitution.

Extraits

[...] The diplomatic relations of Cuba and the United States have evolved since the Cuban revolution of 1959; the two countries ended diplomacy in 1961. Since then, the Treaty of 1934 has had a counter-effect; it worsened the relations of the two countries. International law consecrated the precept of basic changes of circumstance; since the treaty has become a tool of provocation instead of friendship, it could be considered null and void (Luis Ricardo 1994). As it is explained in the “Issue Background,” Fidel Castro has always opposed the treaty and pleaded in favour of a return of Guantánamo to Cuba. [...]

[...] The movement stated that North American military base at Guantánamo, Cuba, the presence of which has been opposed by the government and people of Cuba, affects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country.” (Ricardo Luis 1994) [iii] For further details, see Ricardo Luis, Roger, Guantánamo: The Bay of Discord, p. and Smith, Wayne S., and Esteban Morales Dominguez, Subject to Solution: Problems in Cuban-U.S. Relations p. 107-108. WORKS CITED Aguilar, Luis E Cuba 1933: Prologue to Revolution. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Blight, James G., and Philip Brenner Sad and Luminous Days: Cuba's Struggle with the Superpowers After the Missile Crisis. Lanham, MD; Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Bonsal, Philip W Cuba, Castro, and the United States. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. Cage, Sam. “U.N. [...]

[...] In 1903, the Lease of Coaling or Naval Stations Agreement Between the United States and Cuba Treaty specified that, in exchange of continuance of the ultimate sovereignty of the Republic of Cuba the United states shall exercise complete jurisdiction and control over and within said areas” (Treaty Series No. 418). Since then, Guantánamo Bay has been under U.S. control. Although the Platt Amendment was abrogated by Cuba in 1904, a new agreement was negotiated between the Roosevelt administration and the American-friendly Caffery-Batista-Mendieta government. [...]

[...] Fate Worse Than Guantanamo?” The Washington Post. March Final Edition. Editorial; B07. United Nations. Economic and Social Council. Commission on Human Rights “Situation of Detainees at Guantánamo Bay.” E/CN.4/2006/120. “Iraq Taking a Toll on Bush and Republicans: Poll.” Agence France Presse. March “State Department Issues Background Note on Cuba.” US Fed News. December “Timeline on Terror Prisoners' Treatment.” The Associated Press. January 2005. [...]

[...] The first potential course of action is to reach an agreement with the Castro government on this issue. The United States could negotiate an end to the Guantánamo lease in exchange of concessions from Cuba. The diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since January (State Department 2005). Nevertheless, Fidel Castro has already stated that “another form of political leadership in the country could be considered” (Ricardo Luis 1994) if the United States lift its threats and the economic blockade. [...]