The audio is a telephone call between then-US President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher². 

 

The tape is a recording of Reagan calling Thatcher to apologize for not first informing her about the invasion before it went ahead.

 

"Listen, we regret very much the embarrassment³ that's been caused you, and I'd just like to tell you what the story is from our end out here.

Grenada had been a British colony until 1974.

 

The tape also shows how quiet the US side wanted to keep the invasion of Grenada. 

 

"But I want you to know it was no feeling on our part of lack of confidence at your end. It's at our end. And so, I guess it's the first thing that we've done since I've been president in which the secret actually was kept until it happened."

 

Thatcher, who had just finished leading the UK to victory over Argentina over the Falklands Islands, goes on to say she understands the position Reagan was in.

 

"I know about sensitivity, because of the Falklands. That's why I would not speak for very long even on the secret telephone to you. Because even that can be broken. I'm very much aware of sensitivities. The action is under way now and we just hope that it will be successful."

 

The US invaded Grenada in 1983 to overthrow⁴ the Communist-backed revolution on the island, which was being supported at the time by Cuban forces.

 

The US military took control of Grenada in a matter of weeks, restoring a non-Communist government to power.

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