3. Cuba (Guantánamo Excluded)
After the Spanish-American War of 1898, the U.S. occupied Cuba, guiding its politics and economy until 1902. Though Cuba achieved formal independence, American influence lingered for decades, shaping much of the island’s early 20th-century history. Today, the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base remains a notable exception, still operated by the U.S. The rest of Cuba, however, stands as a testament to shifting power and enduring legacies in the Caribbean.
