What were the reasons behind the US intervention in the Dominican Civil War?

The Dominican Civil War took place between April 1965 and September 1966. It was a conflict between the constitutional government of President Juan Bosch and the military forces that had overthrown him. In April 1965, US President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered 42,000 US troops to intervene in the Dominican Republic in what was known as Operation Power Pack. The reasons behind the US intervention were both political and strategic.

Political Reasons

At the time, the United States was fighting the Cold War against the Soviet Union, and the Dominican Republic was seen as a potential ally of the Soviet Union. The constitutional government of President Bosch had been elected on a platform of social and economic reforms, which many US officials believed would lead to the spread of communism in the Caribbean. The US government saw the overthrow of Bosch as a way to prevent the spread of communism in the region.

Strategic Reasons

The US had a number of strategic interests in the Caribbean, including the protection of American investments and the maintenance of political stability. The Dominican Republic was an important source of sugar, which was a vital commodity for the US economy. In addition, the US had a naval base in the country, which it wanted to protect.

The US intervention in the Dominican Civil War was controversial, and it remains a subject of debate. Some argue that the US intervention was necessary to prevent the spread of communism in the region, while others argue that it was a violation of Dominican sovereignty.