During the Cold War, Cuba often positioned itself internationally by providing direct military assistance to those who shared the same ideology and to resistance movements.

[1] Informally, Cuba's ambitions of foreign military intervention began shortly after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, though it was officially adopted and pronounced in 1966 by Fidel Castro at the Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

[3] On 3 April 1959, local guerillas of the Revolutionary Action Movement supported by Cuba looted a weapons store and went onto the mountains prompting a military operation by the Panamanian guardsmen the next day.

[3] In the night Arias jumped ship, boarding the shrimp boat Elaine,[12] while Fonteyn used her own yacht as a decoy to divert the government forces.

[13] On 27 April 1959, Colonel Bolívar Vallarino gave a press conference denouncing the invasion and presenting three captured prisoners (two Cubans and one Panamanian).

[11] On 30 April 1959, 30 Panamanian National Guard personnel were deployed to Nombre de Dios for the first Battle against the Cuban forces but were called back so a team of neutral observers could reach the location.

[19] In 1959, Roberto Aria and Fonteyn were charged with attempted gun-smuggling from their yacht off the coast of Panama and he was accused of fomenting a revolt against President Ernesto de la Guardia Jr. Meeting at the prison with the British ambassador to Panama Sir Ian Henderson, Fonteyn confessed her involvement and the British Foreign Office granted that her statement was confidential.

[3] The British embassy arranged for her release, and flew her to New York City,[12][20] without disclosing to the United States government that she had been involved with Cuba in the plot.