The main consequence of the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba in 1961 was a significant embarrassment for the United States and a consolidation of Fidel Castro’s power. The failed invasion, orchestrated by the CIA and aimed at overthrowing Castro’s communist government, resulted in the capture or death of most of the invading fighters. The disastrous outcome strained U.S.-Cuba relations and fueled anti-American sentiment in Latin America, reinforcing Cuba's alignment with the Soviet Union. Moreover, it heightened tensions during the Cold War, particularly in the context of the Cuban Missile Crisis that followed just a year later.