Skip to content

December 2, 1987

Confidential Telegram from USINT Havana to Secretary of State George Shultz, 'Cuba Describes Geographic Position and Military Role of its Forces in Angola'

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

Summary: In a possibly significant statement, Cuba has said that its forces are North of the 16th parallel, far removed from UNITA’s main area, and act as a strategic defense against a South African invasion in depth. End summary.

 

In reporting recent events in Angola, the Cuban press has been careful to emphasize that Cuban troops have not been involved in combat. The insistence on the point by the recently downed Cuban pilot, for example, received special attention here.

 

Even more interesting was the report in a Prensa Latina November 27 piece… Luanda that referred to the statement of Angolan Vice Minister Venancio de Moura in New York, which affirmed the right of Angola under the UN Charter to ask military help from other countries.

 

Prensa Latina, however, went on to say that reports underscored that “…the Cuban internationalist forces in Angola have not participated in the fighting. The South African incursions have taken place in the extreme South of Angola near the frontier of Namibia and in the Southeast, a considerable distance from the internationalist Cuban line Namibe-Menongue, deployed north of the 16th parallel as a strategic force that would impede a massive racist invasion in depth”.

Telegram from United States Interests Section in Havana to Secretary of State George Shultz describing the placement of Cuban forces in Angola and the justification that they are not taking part in active combat.


Document Information

Source

National Security Archive, SA02461. Included in "Southern Africa in the Cold War, Post-1974," edited by Sue Onslow and Anna-Mart Van Wyk.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at [email protected].

Original Uploaded Date

2013-10-08

Type

Telegram

Language

Record ID

118169

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation