Invasion of Grenada

Invasion of Grenada
photographer: TSgt. M. J. Creen, USAF · Public domain · source
Conflict	Invasion of Grenada
Part of	Cold War
Caption	Map of Grenada
Date	October 25, 1983 – December 15, 1983
Place	Grenada
Result	United States victory
Combatant1	United States
Combatant2	Cuba, Grenada

Invasion of Grenada. The United States launched a military intervention in Grenada on October 25, 1983, in response to a Cuban-backed New Jewel Movement government, led by Maurice Bishop and later Hudson Austin, which had taken power in a revolution in 1979. The Reagan Administration, led by Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Caspar Weinberger, was concerned about the construction of a airport by Cuba and the presence of Cuban troops on the island, which was seen as a threat to United States interests in the Caribbean. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, led by Eugenia Charles of Dominica, also requested United States intervention to restore democracy in Grenada.

Background

The Grenadian Revolution of 1979, led by Maurice Bishop and the New Jewel Movement, overthrew the Gairy government, which had been in power since Grenada gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. The new government, aligned with Cuba and the Soviet Union, began to construct a airport with the help of Cuban engineers and Soviet advisors. The Reagan Administration saw this as a threat to United States interests in the Caribbean and a potential Soviet military base. The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet–Afghan War had also heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The NATO and the EEC were also concerned about the spread of communism in the Caribbean.

Invasion

On October 25, 1983, a combined force of US Army and US Marine Corps troops, supported by US Navy and US Air Force units, launched an invasion of Grenada, code-named Operation Urgent Fury. The invasion was led by General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., who later became the commander of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. The Cuban troops and Grenadian militia put up some resistance, but were quickly overwhelmed by the superior United States forces. The airport was secured, and the Cuban engineers and Soviet advisors were captured or fled. The United States also rescued American medical students who were attending St. George's University School of Medicine.

Aftermath

The invasion of Grenada resulted in the deaths of 19 United States soldiers and the capture of over 600 Cuban troops and Grenadian militia. The New Jewel Movement government was overthrown, and a new government, led by Herbert Blaize, was established. The airport was completed and is now a major hub for Caribbean air travel. The United States also established a military base on the island, which was used during the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. The invasion of Grenada was widely criticized by the United Nations, the Soviet Union, and Cuba, but was supported by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Commonwealth of Nations.

International_Reactions

The invasion of Grenada was widely condemned by the UN General Assembly, with 108 countries voting against the United States action. The Soviet Union, led by Yuri Andropov, and Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, strongly condemned the invasion, and the Cuban government accused the United States of imperialism. The EEC and the NATO were more divided, with some countries, such as the United Kingdom, led by Margaret Thatcher, supporting the United States action, while others, such as France, led by François Mitterrand, opposed it. The OAS and the CARICOM also condemned the invasion.

Military_Operations

The invasion of Grenada involved a range of military operations, including amphibious assault, parachute assault, and air support. The US Army and US Marine Corps used M113 APCs and LAV-25s to secure the airport and other key objectives. The US Navy provided naval gunfire support and amphibious transport, while the US Air Force provided air support and transportation. The Cuban troops and Grenadian militia used guerrilla warfare tactics, including ambushes and sniping, but were ultimately unable to resist the superior United States forces. The invasion of Grenada was a major military operation that demonstrated the United States ability to project power in the Caribbean and marked a significant turning point in the Cold War. Category:Invasions