The Soviet Union’s Expansionary Policies In Cuba During Brezhnev’s Reign

The Soviet Union implemented expansionary policies widely in the third world under the leadership of Brezhnev in the 1960 s and 1970 s, the diplomatic relations between Soviet Union and Cuba in this period not only affect Soviet Union and Cuba, but also have a profound impact on US-Soviet Cold War pattern and African National Liberation Movement.After the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the diplomatic relationship between Soviet Union and Cuba were in a slump, after a run-in period of the1960 s and finally in the 1970 s were on a very intimate terms with each other, reach peak after the 1975 civil war in Angola.During Brezhnev’s reign, the power of military expansion rapidly,and ultimately won the qualification of on an equal footing with the United Sates. During this period, the Soviet Union’s policy seek “detente”with the United States, while continued to strengthen the expansion of activities in the Third World countries at the same time. In the Cold War,the Soviet diplomatic based on national interests and ideology, which is became a heavy burden.All long, Cuba is considered as the Soviet Union “bridgehead” in Latin America, which is played an important role in the Soviet-US diplomatic relations and even the Cold War. Obviously, this view was ignored the contradictions and conflicts between the Soviet Union and Cuba and overestimated the the position of Cuban in the Soviet diplomatic strategy. In 1975, the civil war in Angola, Cuba was recognized as “mercenary” once again, which is seriously underestimated its own revolutionary and lack of thorough study about the intention of sending out troops.Cuba, as a small country in the Caribbean, frequently become an international focus, which is known as implement big foreign policy during the Cold War. After the Castro held power in 1959, Cuba began toimplement “anti-dependence” diplomatic thinking, but finally choice to dependent on the Soviet Union, this contradiction is precisely the epitome of small countries seek survival in the power of hegemony.1991, the Cold War came to an ended, but its impact is still sustained today. The study of the Soviet expansionary policy in Cuba, which is important for us to explore the overextended policy during Brezhnev era,re-evaluate the status of Cuba in Soviet Union diplomatic strategy and even more in depth understanding of the essence of the Cold War.