Didn't have much of a choice. Our CIA-led invasion of Cuba in 1961 failed spectacularly, as did all of our attempts to assassinate their head of state.
Also there was uncertainity about Castro due to very positive New York Times coverage as to what flavor revolutionary he actually was.
Should have never repealed the Platt Amendment!
It or something like was the only way the Monroe Doctrine could be enforced. FDR’s “Good Neighbor Policy” got it repealed, this sufficently weakened the Monroe Doctrine and allowed the USSR to exploit. Good intentions make poor foreign policy particularly when its in your backyard.
Of course we had a choice. But we accepted that having Russian troops in Cuba was legal as long as they weren’t nuclear capable. That was our position with respect to Cuba for decades, which is why your point about the Cuban Missile Crisis somehow meaning that Ukraine can’t join NATO was so completely backwards.