The Cuban Revolution had a significant historical impact on U.S.-Cuba relations, fundamentally altering diplomatic ties between the two nations. In 1959, Fidel Castro's insurgency overthrew the Batista regime, which was backed by the U.S. The new government aligned itself with Soviet communism, leading to increasing tensions with the United States. In response to trade nationalizations and the alignment with the USSR, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions, culminating in the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. These events solidified Cuba's position as a focal point of Cold War geopolitics and influenced U.S. foreign policy for decades.