alternatehistory.com

Brazil's representitives to the UN put forward a plan on October 25th, 1962 to help resolve the Cuban missile crisis. In broad terms, it would have seen the U.S give up Guantanamo bay and return the territory to Cuba as part of a military neutralization of the entire island. Multilateral assurances would be given against invasion of Cuba in exchange from the complete removal of Soviet/American military units, an end to the arms trade to Cuba would also be part of the deal. Finally, Cuba would adhere to a strict policy of nonalignment ( Castro would still be around but would commit to not joining any military alliance).

The deal would have the advantage of being a Latin American proposal instead of a Soviet/ American one. It would have removed Soviet presense in the Western hemisphere and denied the Cuban's the military hardware to go on their OTL adventures in Angola and Ethiopia. The U.S could also have wrapped up its covert ops in Cuba and the tensions over Soviet military activities in Cuba in the 70s could have been eliminated before they ever occured. The U.S would have to make a sacrafice with Guantanamo but it seems that they gain a lot by permanently barring the Soviets from Latin America.

So, is the whole thing ASB? Could the U.S have gone with the idea? Would the Soviets/ Cubans ever agree to this plan?
Top