The primary reason for U.S. involvement in Angola during its civil war (1975-2002) was largely based on Cold War dynamics. Here's a breakdown of the considerations:
-
The USA was unwilling to allow another African country to fall to communism: This is the most accurate reason. The U.S. government was concerned about the spread of communism in Africa, especially in the context of the Cold War, where the Soviet Union and Cuba were providing support to the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola). The U.S. aimed to prevent what it viewed as a domino effect of communist governments emerging in Africa.
-
USA wanted South Africa to colonize Angola: This statement is misleading. The U.S. did not explicitly support colonization. Rather, it engaged in backing anti-communist movements like FNLA and UNITA, which were also opposed to the MPLA that had support from the Soviets and Cubans.
-
USA preferred capitalist government: While the U.S. did prefer capitalist governments over communist ones due to its ideological stance during the Cold War, this was a broader motivation behind their involvement rather than a direct strategy for Angola alone.
-
USA did not want Cuba in Angola: This is also correct. The U.S. opposed Cuban involvement in Angola, as Cuban troops were sent to support the MPLA. Therefore, U.S. support for the FNLA and UNITA was partly motivated by a desire to counteract Cuban influence in the region.
In summary, the main driving factor for U.S. involvement in Angola was its aim to prevent another country from falling under communist influence during the Cold War, particularly in light of growing Cuban involvement in support of the MPLA.
1 answer