I thought relations were unfriendly between the two countries. How did the U.S. end up having Guantanamo in Cuba of all places?
2006-10-17 22:48:59 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
It was granted to the United States as an unlimited lease-holding by the Cuban government after the Spanish-American War in 1898 (in which the US fought to end Spanish rule in Spain and to grant the Cuban's independence). The US has held onto that lease ever since.
2006-10-17 22:52:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The US obtained rights for the Guantanamo Navel Base at the conclusion of the 1898 Spanish-American War through a lease drawn up with the newly formed Cuban government of that time.
The Cuban Government has denounced the lease and attempted to regain that portion of its sovereign territory citing Article 52 of the 1969 Vienna Convention that disallows/voids such treaties obtained through force or threatened use of force.
2006-10-18 06:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by ElOsoBravo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The land the base resides on has been leased to the US since 1903. The last renegotiation of the lease was in 1934. Because the lease states that it must be terminated by mutual agreement it has continued despite the opposition by the Cuban government.
Cuba has not cashed a single rent check since 1959.
2006-10-18 06:00:36 · answer #3 · answered by Betty 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Cuba was once an American posession, won in the Spanish American war over 100 years ago. Eventually Cuba became independent, but we retained the base ... and before Castro, Cuba's government was actually friendly to the US.
2006-10-18 05:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by Benjamin 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is a lease from long before Castro. The lease requires both nations to agree in order to end it. The US is not willing to give up a very valuable base. More history at site below:
2006-10-18 05:51:49 · answer #5 · answered by Kuji 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
US was able to gain foothold in Cuba during the Spanish American war of 1898 wherein it occupied part of Cuba after defeating Spain without relinquishing it until today.
2006-10-18 05:53:12 · answer #6 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's a 99 year lease from when Cuba was still controlled by our friend the dictator Fulgencio Batista.
2006-10-18 05:53:49 · answer #7 · answered by backinbowl 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Oh, nations don't generally rent out their space unless they are on unfriendly terms. For example, Finland was renting a port area to the USSR after we were defeated in the war.
So, it's more like "Rent this to us, or ELSE" kind of thing.
2006-10-18 05:52:12 · answer #8 · answered by dane 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when we liberated cuba from spain , we were given the right to interfear in cuban politics, and maintain a military presense there.
2006-10-18 08:39:19 · answer #9 · answered by paulisfree2004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋