Cuban–Latin American Relations in the Context of a Changing Hemis ...

(OPEC) and the subsequent rise in world oil prices.¹⁰ At the same time, the United States suffered from a significant domestic political crisis in 1973 and 1974 with the Watergate revelations and ultimately, the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

These economic and domestic political effects, combined with key international factors, contributed to a significant weakening of the United States’ power and international standing during this period. The international developments included the defeat of the United States in Vietnam; the triumph of revolutionary movements in Angola, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua; and the fall of the United States’ strategic ally, the shah of Iran, and the subsequent Iranian revolution.

In Latin America, a variety of different processes were underway, creating new dynamics in inter-American relations. The first of these was the process of change within the OAS (1967–1974) that fostered political pluralism in the organization and allowed certain members to reestablish their relations with Cuba.¹¹ It was an era when Latin America became less of a U.S. priority, creating space for Latin American countries to take more independent stances on world affairs. The second of the processes occurred in the Caribbean, where a series of leaders emerged who were intent on creating a political stance that was independent of both the United Kingdom’s and the United States’ policies and included the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. These leaders included Michael Manley in Jamaica, Erick Williams in Trinidad and Tobago, Forbes Burnham in Guyana, and Errol Barrow in Barbados.

Another important development in the 1970s was the return to power of the Peronists in Argentina under Hector Campora, who reestablished the country’s relations with Cuba. There were also the nationalist military leaderships of Juan Velazco Alvarado in Peru and Omar Torrijos in Panama. The latter initiated the process of negotiations that led to the historic Panama Canal Treaties with the Carter administration and the elimination of the U.S.-owned Canal Zone. The governments of both Peru and Panama also reestablished their relations with Cuba.

Finally, for the first time since the triumph of the Cuban revolution, there was a thawing of U.S.-Cuban relations, though it did not ultimately