U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U.S. breaks Relations with Cuba, 1961'

(Tuesday, January 3, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The United States formally terminated diplomatic and consular relations with the government of Cuba tonight.

President Dwight Eisenhower announced the breaking of relations 19 hours after the Cuban government delivered a note to the United States embassy in Havana demanding that the staff of the embassy and consulate there be reduced to 11 persons.

The move came in the wake of the nationalization of industries in Cuba that were owned by U.S. citizens, which increased as the American government gradually introduced a trade embargo.

The overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement heralded a dramatic change in U.S.-Cuban relations. Eisenhower initially recognized the new socialist government, but the situation quickly deteriorated as Cuba introduced agrarian reforms and the nationalization of U.S.-owned interests.


Video: '3rd January 1961: USA cuts diplomatic relations with Cuba'

In response, the U.S. stopped buying Cuban sugar and banned the sale of oil, so Castro’s government turned to Soviet Russia for assistance. This led to a further deterioration of relations with America. However, a complete trade embargo only came about after Cuba nationalized the three American-owned oil refineries in the country in October 1960.

Further nationalizations over the next three months – including that of private property owned by Americans – led the Eisenhower administration to cut all diplomatic ties with Cuba.

Meanwhile, a group of Cuban exiles in the U.S., known as Brigade 2506, were being trained by the CIA to overthrow Castro’s government. This plan, which resulted in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion on Apr. 17, 1961, was followed through by John F. Kennedy after he became the 35th President of the U.S. less than three weeks after the closure the embassy.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States were finally restored on July 20, 2015, although a trade embargo still exists.