Lending a Helping Hand
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Cuba both had strong ties to the small Caribbean island of Grenada during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Growing concern towards these ties contributed to the U.S. invasion in 1983. President Ronald Reagan believed that, had Grenada emerged from its revolution as a communist nation, it would have been the perfect location for Russia and Cuba to launch the spread of communism throughout South America and other islands in the Caribbean. Reagan called this "Soviet-Cuban militarization." Cold War tensions (having been a constant influence for over twenty years at this point) were the primary cause of Reagan's speculation, forcing him to consider the possibility of an attack and what problems communist influence could present from numerous perspectives. Previous incidents regarding Cuba and the United States, such as the Bay of Pigs, also played a large role. Communist control of a major South American country such as Colombia, for example, could have crippled American economic interests in the region, as well as political ties.
Please note: Depending on connection speed and connectivity, documents may require five or more minutes to download. Retrieved from Grenada Documents: An Overview and Selection, as released by the United States Department of State and the Department of Defense in September of 1984.
Excerpt from a speech given by President Reagan addressing the nation on the situations in Lebanon and
Grenada, October 27, 1983. Courtesy and © Copyright the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Grenada, October 27, 1983. Courtesy and © Copyright the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library