Guantanamo Bay?

Question

How did it come about that the US has a military base in Cuba?

That's true petal, but I wouldn't have thought the US and Cuba are exactly friends, especially militarily.

Great, Thanks everybody!

Answer 1

It was part of the treaty that ended the Spanish-American War. Cuba became an independent country, while the United States got Gitmo, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The Philippines also became an American territory, but has given independence in 1945.

Answer 2

well if you look at all the past countries we've gone to war with. Korea, Germany, France, ETC ETC. Our military has built permanent bases there. We are still in their countries. Same with Iraq, people somehow for SOME reason think a pullout or conclusion to this war is inevitable, yet our Army is building 6 permanent bases there so you tell me. We have had conflicts in Cuba, sure you never heard about 98% of them because they were probably done by spec ops or rangers and the government didnt tell u this. But it happens, our government has repeatedly tried to assasinate castro. One less deadly attempt was when someone was gonna slip a pill into i think maybe his food or somethin that would make his beard fall out, but the pill which was put into a fridge (or freezer) stuck to it, and broke open so that was unsuccesful. sorry that was unerellevant. no idea how i got off track there lol

Answer 3

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 lease was established in a 1903 agreement between the two governments, and its terms were modified in a 1934 treaty.

Answer 4

The US established a base there as a forward command for the Caribbean and Atlantic prior to Castro's government. The previous Cuban government and US signed a long term lease for the base which the Communists pretty much had to accept.

Answer 5

If I'm not mistaken, Cuba was a Spanish colonial possession up until the Spanish/American war; when she lost all of her Caribbean possessions to the U.S. Guantanamo was then established as a U.S. military base, and has remained such ever since.

Wotan

Answer 6

The movie "A few good men" may have some answers for you. Its set in Cuba and covers a court case involving two marines.

Answer 7

Keep in mind that the Spanish-American War was another war in which we used the excuse of a blown up battleship to attack Spain and steal Cuba,The Phillipines,etc.
Some things never chamge. Read about the mysterious explosion on the Battleship MAINE and draw your own conclusions.

Answer 8

it started out in the ike era as a cia station chief got wind of a overthrow in 1959,we been there since at gitmo

Answer 9

the us has bases all over the world as do the brits