America's Foreign Policy Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The CIA's objective during the Bay of Pigs invasion was to train Cuban exiles for a counterrevolution. The plan involved recruiting and training a group of Cuban expatriates who were opposed to Fidel Castro's communist regime. These trained exiles were meant to lead an invasion that would spark a larger uprising among the Cuban population against Castro, aiming to overthrow his government. This approach relied on the idea that once the exiles landed and created a foothold, they could mobilize local support to fundamentally change the political landscape in Cuba.

The other options reflect misunderstandings of the primary goal of the operation. While the invasion was indeed a military action against Castro, the CIA's strategy hinged specifically on the use of trained exiles rather than a direct military offensive. Negotiating with Fidel Castro was not aligned with the CIA's overall aim to support overthrowing his government. Establishing a new government in Cuba was a potential outcome of a successful invasion but not the immediate objective; the focus was on utilizing the trained exiles to instigate that change.