Cuba (1983: Doomsday)
From Alternative History
Motto: Patria o Muerte | |||||
| Capital: | Nueva Gerona | ||||
| Language: | Spanish | ||||
| Ethnic group: | European, African | ||||
| Type of government: | Socialist Republic, Single-party communist state | ||||
| President: | |||||
| Area: | 110,861 km² | ||||
| Population: | app. 7,560,000 inh. | ||||
| Currency: | Cuban peso | ||||
The Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean.
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[edit] History
[edit] Post-Doomsday Aftermath
Cuba was one of the few Communist nations to survive Doomsday. Although Havana and Santiago were hit by nuclear missiles, strategic plans in the USA did not target massive destruction on the island, partly because they did not wish to set off nuclear devices so close to their border, and partly because Cuba did not harbor nukes of their own. However because Miami was a major target for the USSR, Cuba was expecting major effects from fallout.
Fidel Castro was assumed dead, as well as Raul and other top officials, but the Cuba communist system was built to hold together despite the loss of its leaders. Important military personnel were overseas, particularly in Angola, so the chain of command was quickly reestablished once communications were set up again. However, they expected some massive fallout so the government decreed that any Cuban was free to leave the island, suggesting people to migrate to Central or South America but did not provide any means of evacuation. Refugees found what transportation they could and headed for places like Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile the provisional government established a new capitol at Nueva Gerona on the Isla de la Juventud. Attempts by refugees to settle on the island was limited only to those who had special skills and their families. Those who remained on Cuba proper became embroiled in the fighting between various factions who wished to take control of the island.
Meanwhile the remnants of the Cuban government ended all support to the Communist guerrillas in Colombia.
[edit] Reconquista
By 1988 the Cuban government had managed to evacuate most of its military forces remaining in Africa using merchant ships in Cuban waters that were impressed into service. Using these battle-hardened soldiers, the Cuban government began to reestablish control of Cuba proper, hunting down the warlords who had grown to power there. By 1996 the island was once again under government control. Cuban refugees in Central and South America were encouraged to resettle the island through generous aide packages.
Meanwhile the area around Havana and Santiago are put under quarantine and only those who have permission from the government are allowed to set foot in the ruined cities and their surroundings.
[edit] Today
Cuba has become a major economic powerhouse in the Caribbean. The financial upswing has led the Cuban government relaxing some of the restrictions placed on ownership.
The Cuban government has also sponsored expeditions along the southern coast of the former United States, however, there is little interest in colonization. One expedition in 2007 was successful in discovering the secret formula of Coca-Cola and the carbonated soft drink has become a popular export of Cuba. Along with the USSR and other few remaining communist countries it continues to openly promote communist rhetoric.
[edit] Foreign relations
Cuba has close relations with Socialist Siberia, since contact between the two was reestablished in 1997. Both governments continue to provide aid to struggling socialist countries,and Cuba's closest ally in the region is Nicaragua,to whom it continues to send aid and military personnel. Cuba is also a member of the League of Nations.
[edit] Military
Castro's Cuba had a high degree of militarization and devoted a large share of its national resources to support its military establishment and activities. Castro built up the second largest armed forces in Latin America; only Brazil's were larger. From 1975 until the early 1980s, Soviet military assistance enabled Cuba to upgrade its military capabilities. Since the temporary loss of Soviet subsidies Cuba was forced to scale down its military. In recent years, however, military spending has been on the rise, and new equipment is being bought from its Siberian allies. Cuba is secretive about its military spending.
The military has long been the most powerful, influential, and competent official institution in Cuba, and high-ranking generals are believed to play crucial roles in all conceivable succession scenarios.
[edit] See also
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