Cuba

• For 13 days in October 1962, the world appeared to stand on the brink of nuclear war
• This is one of the few examples from the Cold War where the two main superpowers actually came into direct confrontation with the other
• Castro


  Became the leader of Cuba in 1959 after overthrowing the dictator Batista
• Castro's first moves


  Go to the USA to secure support for his new state, but President Eisenhower refused to speak with him. Instead, Castro accepted the Soviet Union's offer of support for his new government
• Until 1959


  Most of Cuba's trade in sugar and cigars was with America, but Castro changed to trade to be with USSR
• The USA

  Had a pro-communist state 'in its own backyard' or in their 'sphere of influence'
• The Bay of Pigs

  1. In April 1961, just after he was installed as President of the USA, Kennedy approved a plan to invade Cuba and overthrow communism

  2. The CIA landed 1,400 Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba with the aim of provoking an anti-communist uprising

  3. The rebels were easily defeated when they were met by 20,000 heavily armed Cuban troops

  4. All were captured or killed

  
• Khrushchev

  Agreed to provide Cuba with weapons and missiles for defence
• An agreement was reached during a secret meeting between Khrushchev and Castro in July 1962


  Construction of a number of missile launch facilities started later that summer
• Kennedy's reaction


  1. Within two days of the latest Cuban threat, President Kennedy formed a special advisory group (Executive Committee of the National Security Council or ExComm) to weigh up various options

  2. After talks with ExComm, Kennedy was faced with a range of options to deal with the Soviet threat in Cuba

  3. Ignore the missiles: The Soviets would see this as weakness on Kennedy's part, and they would likely take advantage of it

  4. Get the United Nations involved: The USSR would block any UN action so this would be of little value

  5. Call on the USSR to remove the missiles: He could do this by explaining the damage their presence was doing to Soviet-American relations

  6. Blockade Cuba and not allow any more Soviet ships to enter Cuba: This would still leave missiles on Cuba but the negotiations would continue in the background while publicly Kennedy would be seen to be doing something specific. This risked military confrontation

  7. Invade with soldiers or launch air attacks: An unprovoked attack, involving air strikes probably followed by an invasion, would be hard to justify. This would probably lead to Soviet retaliation
• Key events


  • 22 October - Kennedy imposes a naval blockade around Cuba
  • 23 October - Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviet ships will not stop at the blockade, but will force their way through
  • 24 October - US ships, submarines, troops and air force were placed on full alert. USSR ships approaching the blockade turn back
  • 25 October - US spy planes report increased building work at the missile launch sites on Cuba
  • 26 October - Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev promising to remove the launch sites if the USA agrees to lift the blockade and promises not to invade Cuba. Tension increased when a U2 plane was shot down by a Russian missile and the pilot killed
  • 27 October - A second letter from Khrushchev says the launch sites will only be removed if the US removes its missiles in Turkey. Kennedy keeps his cool and opts to answer only the first telegram while privately offering to consider the removal of missiles from Turkey
  • 28 October - Khrushchev agrees to the removal of all missiles on Cuba and their return to the Soviet Union
• Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis


  • Missiles in both Turkey and Cuba were removed
  • Both sides agreed to avoid a future confrontation and set up a direct hotline between Washington and Moscow
  • 1963: Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty - this controlled nuclear weapons and only allowed tests underground
  • 1969: Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - this prevented more countries from acquiring nuclear weapons
  • Cuba stayed communist

  
• In order to ensure easier communication between Washington DC and Moscow in the event of future conflict


  A hotline was installed giving a direct phone link between the White House and the Kremlin
• Both the USA and the USSR realised they had been on the brink of nuclear war


  Entered into talks. These talks eventually led to the 1963 Test Ban Treaty. By 1969, both countries promoted the idea of 'peaceful co-existence.'
• One of the most significant results was that the world never faced this type of crisis again
• The Cuban Missile Crisis


  Did pave the way for a period of détente and there was closer co-operation between the superpowers on human rights, nuclear disarmament and trade

  
• Kennedy's third option was to impose a naval blockade (quarantine) of Cuba. This would prevent any more missiles from reaching Cuba and give time for negotiations to take place. It would also allow the US to appear strong without resorting to violence.
• Kennedy's second option was to launch a military attack against Cuba. This would have involved bombing Cuba and invading with troops. However, Kennedy knew that if the Soviet Union responded militarily then the result would be catastrophic. The US did not want to start World War III so this was not a realistic option.
• By November 20th all the missiles were removed from Cuba and the US lifted its quarantine. In return, the US secretly gave assurances that it wouldn't invade Cuba and would remove its own missiles from Turkey within six months.