As chair of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1979 to 1983, Castro came close to gaining a seat for Cuba on the UN Security Council. He lost the bid when his Soviet supporters invaded Afghanistan.
Because of Cuba’s sensitive economic situation, Castro had no choice but to fall in line behind the Soviets, a position which greatly undermined his leadership position.
The United States attempted to convert Islamic and other Third World criticism of the Soviet Union into a trend accelerating association with the US; however, most of the non-aligned nations were intent on remaining so.
The era of Soviet boldness came to an end when — in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution — militants seized the American embassy.
The ensuing hostage crisis galvanized the Carter administration into action, spurring a US military buildup.
Third World governments — Oman, Somalia, Kenya — were soon approached regarding continuing American access to naval and air facilities, and a sizable American fleet came to be stationed in the Indian Ocean.
The problems in Iran exacerbated existing fears that the Soviets were involved in creating a broad arc of crisis reaching from Africa throughout Southeast Asia, representing a sweeping assault on the status quo.
For historical and intellectual accuracy it would be nice to know the origin of the photo.
You’re right of course. I first used that photo in 2010 and have lost the credit if I ever had it. At that time I was purchasing stock photography.