Coup d'état (18 jun 1954 año – 27 jun 1954 año)

Descripción:

-causes: UFCO pressure on US government (inc. economic interests of Allan + John Foster Dulles), Guatemala seen as test case for domino theory, USA wanted to show it wouldn't allow proliferation of leftist movements in Latin America

-Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas led armed insurrection with 150 exiles (entered Guatemala from Honduras)

-assisted by USA (Eisenhower administration)

-CIA involvement (e.g. exaggerated strength of opposition to Árbenz in reports)

-US pilots attacked capital (bombs/machine guns?) - not much damage but gave impression that the capital was under siege

-army refused to help government (fear of bloody battle)

-Árbenz force to resign + go into exile

-seen as a success by USA: rollback of communism

-signalled end of democracy for 4 decades

-led to fears of similar coups in other Latin American countries (e.g. Cuba)