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Coups Arranged or Backed by the USA
Introduction
Since 1945, the USA has been responsible either directly or indirectly of helping remove dozens of governments, many democratically elected, around the world. Sometimes the events are kept secret for years and only slowly come out. Other times, the events are the cause of demonstrations, anger and resentment at the time they occur.
Whenever, an event like this occurs there are two reasons to be considered.
- Reason 1: The reason given by the USA, its media and its friends around the world. Reasons like Communism, Terrorism, Human Rights, Freedom, Liberation, Weapons of Mass Destruction, etc.
- Reason 2: The actual reason. This is usually hidden from the general public and has to be looked for in quotes by under-reported officials or subsequent events on the ground. Often, the victims of the change of government know the real reasons better than the populations of the Western countries. Real reasons are many but usually include Business Interests, Access to Resources, Markets, Military Bases, Strategic Value, or Political Support.
In the list below only successful changes of government are listed. Many attempts have failed. Cuba is the best example of this.
| Year | Country | Reason Given | Actual Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Syria | Communism | Elected government against USA political interests and pro-Palestinian. |
| 1949 | Greece | Communism | Elected government against USA political and economic interests. |
| 1952 | Cuba | None | Elected government against USA business interests. |
| 1953 | Iran | None | Elected government against USA oil interests. |
| 1953 | British Guyana | None | Access to sugar and bauxite. |
| 1954 | Guatemala | Communism | Elected government against USA business interests. |
| 1955 | South Vietnam | Communism | French backed leader replaced by USA backed leader. |
| 1957 | Haiti | Haiti is near the USA | Previous government against USA business interests. |
| 1958 | Laos | None | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1959 | Laos | None | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1960 | South Korea | Communism | Previous leader not strong enough for USA. |
| 1960 | Laos | None | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1960 | Ecuador | Communism | Previous government too independent in foreign policy. |
| 1963 | Dominican Republic | Business Interests | Elected government against USA business interests. |
| 1963 | South Vietnam | None | Previous leader's policies led to televised suicides. |
| 1963 | Honduras | Communism | Pro-USA government and access to resources. |
| 1963 | Guatemala | Communism | Military government was about to allow elections. |
| 1963 | Ecuador | None | Elected government too independent. |
| 1964 | Brazil | Communism | Access to resources and cheap labour. |
| 1964 | Bolivia | Communism | Previous government too independent in foreign policy. |
| 1965 | Zaire | None | Access to cobalt, copper and diamonds. |
| 1966 | Ghana | None | Previous government too independent in foreign policy. |
| 1967 | Greece | None | Military bases. |
| 1970 | Cambodia | None | Previous king against USA political interests. |
| 1970 | Bolivia | None | Country took ownership of its oil and tin. |
| 1972 | El Salvador | Communism | Elected leader against USA business interests. |
| 1973 | Chile | Communism | Elected government against USA business interests. |
| 1975 | Australia | None | Elected government had unsuitable foreign policy. |
| 1979 | South Korea | None | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1980 | Liberia | Democracy | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1982 | Chad | None | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1983 | Grenada | Democracy | Pro-USA government wanted. |
| 1987 | Fiji | Democracy | Previous elected government supported nuclear-free Pacific. |
| 2002 | Venezuela | None | Disagreed with foreign policy of elected government. |
| 2004 | Haiti | Fraudulent elections |
Disagreed with economic policy of elected government. |