Cuban Missile Crisis

• What were USA and Cuban relationships like before 1959?


  Good, Cuba was very closely linked to the USA e.g. there were lots of US-owned businesses.
• What happened after Cuba's socialist revolution in 1959?


  USA refused to deal with Cuba and their relationship deteriorated.

  Cuba instead started to build economic links with the Soviet Union.
• Who led Cuba's socialist revolution?


  Fidel Castro.

  CIA attempted to assassinate him many times but had no success.

  USA refused to recognise Castro's government because it did not want a socialist country in their sphere of influence, especially when it has close links to the Soviet Union.

  CIA convinced JFK that a US-backed invasion of Cuba would solve the problem.
• The Bay of Pigs incident


  17 April 1961 The CIA told JFK that the invasion will look like a Cuban revolt, Castro's control of Cuba is very weak, and most Cubans hate Castro. But what actually happened was that the planes used in the invasion were recognised as American and the whole world became aware that this was the USA's doing. Castro also knew of the invasion in advance and 1,400 US-backed troops were met with 20,000 of Castro's troops, prompting the USA troops to surrender. And finally, Cubans did like Castro as they did not want Batista back as he had been corrupt.
• What did the Soviet Union do?


  They decided to put missiles in Cuba as it was close to the USA (similar to what USA had done in the UK).

  In September 1962, Soviet ships carried nuclear warheads and missiles to Cuba.

  Then in October 1962, US spy planes photographed the Cuban missile sites and the secret was out.

  There was a lot of panic.
• Time line of the Cuban Missile Crisis

  1962

  16 Oct- JFK informed of missile sites found in Cuba.

  20 Oct- JFK decides against an attack. Orders a blockade of Cuba.

  24 Oct- Soviet Union say blockade is and act of aggression and its ships will ignore it.

  25 Oct- USA and Soviet Union prepare for immediate nuclear attack.

  27 Oct- Khrushchev offers to remove missiles from Cuba if USA does the same in Italy and Turkey.

  US spy plane shot down over Cuba. Retaliation demanded.

  Robert Kennedy sets up a deal in which the USA would secretly withdraw warheads from Italy and Turkey.

  28 Oct- Khrushchev agrees to deal and withdraws missiles from Cuba as long as USA keep their promise.
• Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis


  Cuba remained communist but nuclear missiles were gone.

  Propaganda victory for USA, stood up to USSR, leading to Brezhnev replacing Khrushchev in 1964.

  Limited Test Ban Treaty (Aug 1963)- both sides agreed to ban all nuclear weapon tests except for underground tests.

  1963 Hotline communication established between Washington and Moscow.

  Outer Space Treaty 1967- Limited deployment of nuclear weapons in space.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968- Prevented nuclear weapons from being given to other countries.

  Period of détente, both sides eager to avoid war.