How is it possible for the US to maintain a base (Guantanamo) in Cuba?

Question

I thought the two countries had been enemies for about the last 50 years

Answer 1

The lease on the land predates Castro. He chose to honer the agreement although there wasn't much he could to to evict us.

Answer 2

Guantánamo Bay Naval Base at the southeastern end of Cuba (19°54′N 75°9′W) has been used by the United States Navy for more than a century. The United States controls the land on both sides of the southern part of Guantánamo Bay (Bahía de Guantánamo in Spanish) under a lease set up in the wake of the 1898 Spanish-American War. The Cuban government denounces the lease on grounds that article 52 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties voids treaties procured by force or its threatened use.

Since 2001, the naval base has contained a military prison, the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp, for persons alleged to be militant combatants captured in Afghanistan and later in Iraq. Prior to 11 July 2006, the U.S. maintained that these detainees are not protected under the Geneva Convention

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base

Answer 3

What most people don't know, is that Cuba LEASED in 1903 Guantanamo Bay base for an INDEFINITE time to the U.S. at the end of the Spanish-American War, granting the United States "complete jurisdiction and control" of the area. And the worst part is that it was actually offered by the then president of Cuba, Tomas Estrada Palma, who was incidentally, an AMERICAN citizen.

That's why the U.S. will NEVER leave, and the Cuban government is just playing on the general ignorance when they talk about imperialism, occupation, blah blah blah... If they gave their land away.....

Unbelievable isn't it? But 100% true. Look it up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base

Answer 4

Guantanamo Bay was purchased by the US prior to Fidel Castro's election. There actually was a time when Cuba was like a rich man's get away. There is actually still hope that someday the Americans will be able to use it again for that purpose. The US holds it's ownership of the bay, as an added protection to the US shoreline, and provide Cuba with Coastal protection as well.

Answer 5

And why are we enemies - because Fidel wanted his country's economy to work for its people? We know today, despite all the propaganda, that the human rights record in Cuba is (alas) no worse than the rest of latin america, except costa rica, and it's standard of living is the highest in the caribbean and it's medical system is the best in latin america.

WHY ARE WE AGAINST THAT????????????? we had to be, because he was showing, on a dinky island with few resources, that communism can work to improve the lives of the people.

Answer 6

Because we signed a lease for the base after the Spanish American war and the only way the lease can be broken is if both sides agree to it. We like the base there, we pay for it. Castro of course don't cash the checks but who cares. I certainly don't.

Answer 7

Because America supplied the now cuban government with military equipment to rid the last tyrant. For such actions they demanded that they have ownership of certain pieces of land that would be of tactical importance. America still supplies munitions so that they have a base out of thir own country that they can abuse people's human rights and it is not illegal because it is not on American soil it is not affected by their constitution.

Answer 8

The land was leased in perpetuity to the United States in the 1940s. Despite the revolutionary government, they can't break the lease without causing a war.

Answer 9

the united states acquired guantanamo after the spanish-american war and retained it after cuba was granted independence.

Answer 10

Because they are the Americans