Few people realise that, despite them being near-mortal enemies, the United States has a Naval Base in Cuba. The land that they occupy is 49 square kilometres (113 square kilometres if you count the bay). This is a view of the base taken from a Cuban military observation post located on a hillside overlooking the base.
The naval base dates from the American occupation of Cuba, following the Spanish-American War in 1899. After several years living under American military law, Cuba was granted independence. However, there were several "strings" attached in a document called thePlatt amendment. Under the amendment, the United States had the policy to veto or overrule laws or policies that it did not agree with, the right to re-occupy Cuba (which happened on several occasions), and Guantßnamo Bay was granted to the United States on 99-year lease for use as a military base. The lease was later extended until the year to 2033 – at a cost of $2,000 per year.
Since the Cuban Revolution, Cuba has made numerous protests about the base which is now located on Cuban soil against Cuba's will. It has taken up its case with the United Nations and Non-Aligned Nations, who have generally agreed about the unjustness of other countries maintaining bases on foreign soil against the host nation's will. They have recommended that the United States should withdraw from Guantßnamo, but the United States has kept the base maintaining that it has a right to do so under its original agreement.