Abstract: This article tackles the Yugoslav–Cuban rivalry within the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which has marked the latter half of the 1970s and it was closely related to the developments in the relationship between the two superpowers during the last phase of détente. This was a conceptual conflict between the two dominant lines within the Movement, one that advocated rapprochement with the Soviet bloc, and it was presented in the face of Cuba and its allies, while the other one, dominated by Yugoslavia and consisted of many other non-aligned countries, strived to preserve the previous non-bloc and independent orientation of this organization. This was an intensive diplomatic struggle which defined the later destiny of the NAM. This article is primarily based on the documents from the Serbian, US, British, Indian, German and Myanmar archives.

Keywords: Yugoslavia, Cuba, Non-Aligned Movement, rivalry, Global Cold War

Summary

The article deals with a new round of struggle between the radicals and moderates within the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that marked its history during the latter half of the 1970s. This struggle for supremacy of one line over the other, with one side arguing closer alignment with the Soviet or US blocs, while the other was strongly advocating a non-bloc and an equidistant policy, was primarily embodied in the conceptual and geopolitical rivalry between Yugoslavia and Cuba and their respective allies during those years. These were times of crumbling détente when the US was on the global defensive, while the Soviet Union was on the offensive throughout the Third World, with a string of pro-Soviet regimes emerging in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This seemed as an opportune moment for Cuba, Vietnam and others from the so-called “progressive” group to attempt to transform the NAM into the reserve force of the socialist camp and stage a complete overhaul of Movement’s principles, concepts, goals and priorities. On the other hand, Yugoslavia, backed by a sounding majority of member countries coming from the ranks of the so-called “moderates”, acted against such plans of the rival group, actively advocating a more balanced approach to both blocs, with a non-bloc orientation and independent stand in world affairs remaining its priorities for the NAM’s future. Any alignment with any of the two blocs, in this case the Soviet one being a more pressing issue, as it was perceived in Yugoslavia, could have implied an outright rift within Movement’s ranks, thus becoming a harbinger of its rapid dissolution in the near future. This was a catastrophic scenario that everyone in Yugoslavia, and within the “moderate” group, aspired to avoid at any cost, therefore both sides were locked in a protracted confrontation that left a strong imprint on different events organized by the NAM up until the 1979 Havana summit. During that seminal event, the Yugoslav line, argued personally by Josip Broz Tito, finally prevailed, thus preserving Movement’s founding principles and its general orientation in their previous, original shape. Unfortunately, this also proved to be Tito’s final diplomatic struggle after which the last of the pioneers of global non-alignment would disappear from the historical scene, leaving the Movement without a strong hand to guide it in times of new challenges.