The+Platt+Amendment

After the Spanish-American war, the United States became the primary protector and trade partner to Cuba. To secure this position of influence in Cuba, the Platt Amendment was signed. It prohibited Cuba from having any power of negotiation with nations other than the US, as well as from making any land transgfer to any nation other than the US. It also ensured US intervention in Cuban affairs whenever the United States deemed necessary. This is revelant to the fact that some of Fidel's first acts as leader of Cuba was to nationalize goods and services that had first been owned by the United States. Furthermore, it leads us to a better understanding of the underlying distrust between Cuba and the United States even prior to the Cold War.