Attempted nationalisation of the former US embassy in Havana

In 1964 the Swiss ambassador to Cuba, Emil A. Stadelhofer, succeeded in preventing the seizure of the US embassy in Havana.

In 1964 Cuban officials turned up in front of the US embassy in Havana with the intention of seizing it and housing the Cuban Ministry of the Fishing Industry in it. The Swiss ambassador successfully defended the embassy compound by locking the embassy gate.

Prior to this incident, the US Coast Guard had arrested the crews of four Cuban fishing boats in US territorial waters in the Florida Keys. The Cuban authorities responded by cutting off the water supply to the US Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, and began plans to storm the US embassy in Havana.

Last update 26.01.2022

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