How did the 1954 overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz’s government affect Che Guevara’s beliefs?

The 1954 overthrow of the government of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala was a pivotal moment that profoundly shaped Che Guevara’s political ideology. Having been in Guatemala during the U.S.-backed coup, Guevara became convinced that the United States would consistently oppose and undermine progressive, leftist regimes in Latin America.1

This experience served as a catalyst for his transition into a dedicated Marxist. The event solidified his belief that achieving socialism in the region could not be accomplished through reformist paths but would instead require a worldwide, violent revolution. Consequently, the conviction that U.S. interventionism was an insurmountable obstacle to national sovereignty became a cornerstone of his revolutionary strategy, directly influencing his later commitment to armed struggle and his staunch opposition to imperialism.12