ABSTRACT
The North-South axis began to assume a more prominent place in Cuba's order of priorities, rivaling and in some respects overshadowing its concern with East-West issues. These adjustments in both style and substantive orientation heralded the dawning of the Revolution's global activism. Along with this globalism came a discreet resurgence of the nationalistic dimension in Cuban activities abroad. Various factors contributed to a mellowing from 1972 to 1975 in Havana's stance toward the United States. As Havana entered its initial globalist phase, it heavily stressed that it considered itself first and foremost a Latin American nation and that it intended to play a major role in hemispheric affairs. Cuban-US relations peaked in late 1974 when the two countries inaugurated a series of secret high-level negotiations. The round of talks was conducted quietly by US and Cuban officials in Washington and New York on four occasions between November 1974 and November 1975.
