THE IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN INVASION OF GRENADA ON ANGLO- AMERICAN RELATIONS AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF INTERMEDIATE-RANGE NUCLEAR FORCES IN BRITAIN

ii This thesis studies the impact the American invasion of Grenada in 1983 had on Anglo-American relations and the deployment of cruise missiles in Britain. Anglo-American nuclear relations were dependent on a strong level of trust between the two governments. The deception employed by President Reagan’s government in concealing American intentions concerning Grenada from the British government broke that trust. The American invasion also furthered doubts held by the general British population concerning the placement of American owned and operated cruise missiles on British soil. The deployment of Intermediate-Range Nuclear forces in Britain and Western Europe was crucial to Prime Minister Thatcher’s foreign policy objectives. The American invasion of Grenada imperiled the deployment of INF and demonstrated profound differences in how President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher viewed the Anglo-American alliance and foreign policy in general. Ultimately, the Grenada affair provides an opportunity to study Britain’s ability to maintain an independent foreig