Cuba

On February 15, 1898, the American battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in Cuba. The incident led to the deaths of 266 of the 355 crew members. The cause of the explosion was never definitively determined, but it fueled American sensationalist media claims and stirred public opinion in the US against Spain, contributing to the start of the Spanish-American War. The phrase "Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!" became a popular rallying cry, and the incident played a crucial role in the United States' decision to intervene in the Cuban War of Independence.

On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl led a group of approximately 160 rebels in an attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, a key event marking the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. The assault was a failure, as many rebels were killed or captured. Fidel and Raúl were arrested, but the event established Fidel Castro as a prominent figure in Cuban politics and inspired further revolutionary activities. The date is commemorated in Cuba as the Day of the National Rebellion.

On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro led his revolutionary forces to victory, overthrowing the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. This marked the successful conclusion of the Cuban Revolution that began in 1953 and transformed Cuba's political, economic, and social structure. Fidel Castro's government nationalized industries, enacted agrarian reforms, and aligned with the Soviet Union, leading to tense relations with the United States during the Cold War. The revolution significantly impacted Cuban society and politics, with enduring effects on international relations.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion occurred on April 17, 1961, when a group of Cuban exiles, trained and funded by the CIA, attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro's government by landing at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba. The invasion failed disastrously within two days, with most invaders captured or killed. The failure embarrassed the United States and strengthened Castro's position in Cuba, further solidifying his ties with the Soviet Union. The incident remains a significant event in US-Cuba relations.

The Cuban Missile Crisis began on October 14, 1962, when American reconnaissance planes photographed Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to a 13-day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, as the US enforced a naval blockade around Cuba and demanded the removal of the missiles. A secret agreement between US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev resulted in the missiles being withdrawn in exchange for US concessions, which included removing American missiles from Turkey.

In April 1980, the Mariel Boatlift began when Cuban President Fidel Castro announced that anyone who wanted to leave Cuba could do so. Over the next five months, approximately 125,000 Cubans set sail for the United States from the port of Mariel. Many of the departing Cubans were labeled as undesirable by the Cuban government, but the exodus also included many who sought economic opportunities and family reunification in the US. The Mariel Boatlift had significant social and political impacts in both Cuba and the US, particularly in South Florida, where many of the refugees settled.

On August 5, 1994, spontaneous protests erupted along the Malecón in Havana, known as the Maleconazo. Thousands of Cubans took to the streets expressing frustration with economic hardship and government policies. The unrest led the Cuban government to allow many citizens to leave the country by boat, resulting in an event known as the 1994 Cuban Rafter Crisis. The Maleconazo highlighted the growing discontent under Cuba's socialist regime during the 'Special Period' following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had been Cuba's main economic partner.

On December 17, 2014, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced the beginning of a process to normalize relations between the two countries after more than five decades of hostility. The announcement included plans to re-establish embassies, ease travel restrictions, and increase trade and communication. The diplomatic thaw came after secret negotiations, and it marked a historic shift in US-Cuba relations. The move was widely welcomed by the international community but faced criticism from some US politicians and Cuban dissidents.

On March 20, 2016, US President Barack Obama arrived in Cuba for a historic visit, becoming the first sitting American president to visit the island since 1928. The visit was a significant step in the process of normalizing relations between the US and Cuba, following the announcement of the rapprochement in 2014. During the visit, Obama met with Cuban President Raúl Castro, and addressed issues such as trade, political freedoms, and human rights. The visit symbolized a new era in US-Cuba relations, despite ongoing political differences.

On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans participated in widespread protests across the country, demanding freedoms, economic reforms, and government accountability. These demonstrations were among the largest seen on the island in decades, triggered by shortages of food, medicine, and electricity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters chanted slogans like "Freedom" and called for an end to the communist regime. The Cuban government responded with force, arresting protesters and blaming the unrest on foreign interference, particularly from the United States.