What was the primary function of the Platt Amendment regarding Cuba?

The Platt Amendment, enacted in 1901, primarily enabled the United States to maintain significant control over Cuba's political and economic affairs. This amendment was a response to the Spanish-American War and framed the relationship between the two nations. While it did ostensibly grant Cuba the right to self-government, it also stipulated that the U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if it deemed necessary to preserve order, protect life, property, or maintain independence.

Moreover, the Platt Amendment restricted Cuba from entering into treaties with other nations that might compromise its independence and allowed the U.S. to establish military bases on the island, notably Guantanamo Bay. This reflects the strong influence the U.S. sought to maintain in the region, which was characterized by conditions favoring American economic interests and political stability.

The other options mischaracterize the Platt Amendment's content and implications. It did not establish Cuba as an independent nation outright, as it imposed limitations on its sovereignty. Likewise, it did not grant Cuba full sovereignty; the amendment explicitly allowed U.S. intervention, thus controlling elements of Cuban independence. Finally, it did not require the removal of all foreign troops, since at the time the U.S. had been the dominant foreign presence in Cuba following