6. Grenada
In 1983, U.S. forces stormed the tiny island nation of Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. Their stated goals: protect American medical students and overthrow a newly installed Marxist government. The invasion triggered sharp criticism from the UN and U.S. allies, with many calling it an overreach. Compared to other Cold War interventions in the Caribbean, Grenada was brief but highly visible, reinforcing Washington’s determination to prevent Soviet influence even in the region’s smallest nations.
