Cuba was the last major
Spanish colony to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that began in 1868.
José Martí, Cuba's national hero, helped initiate the final push for independence in 1895. In 1898, the United States fought a brief war known as the
Spanish–American War, after the
USS Maine sank in
Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, due to an explosion of undetermined origin. In December 1898, Spain relinquished control of Cuba to the United States with the
Treaty of Paris. On May 20, 1902, the United States granted Cuba its independence but retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability in accordance with the
Platt Amendment. Prior to 1902, American interests in Cuba were represented by a Consul-General at Havana. In 1902 the US established an embassy in Havana and appointed its first ambassador,
Herbert G. Squiers. In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed. The United States and Cuba concluded a
Treaty of Relations in 1934 which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to the United States. In 1959
Fidel Castro's
26th of July Movement overthrew the government of
Fulgencio Batista and Batista fled the country on January 1, 1959. Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as the Cuban government expropriated US properties and developed close
ties with the Soviet Union. In October 1960, the US recalled its ambassador to protest Castro's policies. On January 3, 1961, the US withdrew
diplomatic recognition of the Cuban government and closed the embassy in Havana. On September 1, 1977, the US established the
United States Interests Section in Havana, located in its former embassy and operated under the auspices of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana. The Interests Section was headed by Chief of Mission rather than an ambassador. Bilateral relations between the two governments resumed on July 20, 2015. ==Consuls General at Havana==