Final answer:
The U.S. has historically used naval quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis and warships in other instances to intervene or display military presence near Cuba, particularly during periods of heightened tension, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Spanish-American War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the course of history, the United States has had a complex relationship with Cuba, particularly during times of tension when military intervention or assistance seemed likely. One of the most notable instances is the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when the discovery of Soviet missile silos on Cuba led to a harrowing standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. In response, President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval "quarantine" around Cuba to intercept any Soviet ships delivering additional missiles, using the term to avoid connotations of war that "blockade" would imply. During earlier periods such as the Cuban revolt against Spanish rule, the U.S. sent warships as a form of gunboat diplomacy to show support for Cuban independence. This practice continued, particularly during the Spanish-American War when the U.S. Navy sank the Spanish fleet and changed the dynamic of Spanish defeat, later resulting in Cuban independence and American acquisition of territories as a consequence of Spain's defeat. Moreover, historical episodes like the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, in which the U.S. Navy delivered trained ex-Cubans for an invasion attempt on Cuba, demonstrate other instances where the U.S. had a direct military involvement in Cuban affairs.