Located at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean, Cuba is one of the most iconic islands in the western world. Published by the Central Intelligence Agency at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, this depiction is a rare piece of international cartographical history. Following the ousting of Dictator Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro in 1959, Cuba became one of the few Marxist-Leninist states. This led to significant tension between Cuba and the United States and would result in decades of economic sanctions and political opposition.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a brief political conflict between the two nations as the Soviet Union matched missile defenses in Cuba to those installed by the US in Italy and Turkey. This remains one of the defining moments of the Cold War and the closest it came to escalating to a full-blown war. United States President John F. Kennedy chose to go against his military advisers and ordered a naval quarantine of the island to prohibit food and other aid from being imported instead of an air attack followed by a full-scale invasion. By calling this measure a quarantine instead of a blockade, the United States avoided committing an act of war.
CIA maps are unique for their uniform aesthetic and precise attention to detail and geopolitical boundaries, which represent the most current borders. Top-ranking political and military leaders utilize them to develop foreign policies, international relations and implement military strategies.
Our museum quality giclee print comes printed with archival ink on premium heavyweight matte paper. Shipped in a sturdy cardboard tube your print will arrive ready to be framed. This eye-catching vintage map reproduction print makes the perfect gift for anyone that loves history and imagery.
