Mikhail Gorbachev to Fidel Castro

Dear Comrade Fidel,

I tell you sincerely and as a friend that your letter [...] left me worried. [...]

First, I want to tell you that we do not consider this episode in any way indicative of a crisis of confidence in our relations. Both you and I know well that Soviet-Cuban relations are based on a long-standing fraternal friendship and are characterized by special sincerity and trust.

During your visit to Moscow for the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Great October Revolution we exchanged views about a broad range of subjects, including Angola. I got the impression that the situation in that country was complicated but did not require extraordinary measures. Therefore, the news of Cuba’s decision to send additional troops to Angola was for us, I say it bluntly, a complete surprise.

Maybe you coordinated with dos Santos but, in any case, I find it hard to understand how you could have taken such a decision without consulting us, when we have relied for a long time on tripartite consultations to develop a coordinated policy in Angola.

Regarding the conduct of the military operations in Angola, we assume that they will be coordinated among the Angolan high command, the Cuban high command and the Soviet military advisers. It is a fact of life that military operations are not always successful. In war anything can happen. I think that we must now proceed calmly and deliberately in order to cool the passions.

At the same time we must significantly improve the coordination between our various military representatives when planning future military operations in Angola. I think that you share this desire. For our part, we have ordered our military representatives in Angola to maintain the strictest collaboration on the ground with their [Cuban] comrades in the elaboration and implementation of military operations.

[...]

With comradely greetings,

M. Gorbachev

5 December 1987