Written By: Mika Lai
background
Origins
1960s - USA & USSR continues to develop new and more deadly weapons, both spying on each other’s to steal technological secrets
Nuclear bombs could be launched from submarines or planes
Both sides had missiles that could travel across continents within 30 minutes
By the end of the 1960s, both sides had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the other side
Nuclear Deterrent meant an enemy would not dare to attack because it knew that if it did, the others would strike back (Mutually Assured Destructions)
Surely no side would dare strike back knowing the attack would destroy itself too
Cuban Revolution
American Ally, business and naval base
Provided General Batista with economic & military support
Batista was a dictator but USA still supported Cuba since they were just as anti-communist as the Americans
Fidel Castro
1959
After a 3 year campaign, Castro overthrew Batista
Killing, arresting, exiling political opponents
The USA was taken by surprise at first and decided to recognise Castro as the leader of Cuba
Within a short period of time, relations grew worse
There were thousands of Cuban exiles in the USA who had fled from Castro’s rule, who formed powerful pressure groups demanding action against Castro
Castro took over some American-owned businesses in Cuba: agricultural businesses and land
USA Responds
June 1960, Eisenhower authorised the US CIA to investigate ways of overthrowing Castro:
Funding to Cuban exiles
Investigated ways to disrupt the Cuban economy, damaging sugar plantations
American companies in Cuba refused to cooperate with any Cuban businesses that used USSR resources
American media broadcasted a relentless stream of criticism of Castro and his regime
→ Castro responded to US hostility with a mixed approach:
Assured Americans living in Cuba that they were safe
Allowed USA to keep its naval base
Stated that he simply wanted to run Cuba without interference
By the Summer of 1960, he had allied Cuba with the USSR
Soviet leader, Krushchev signed a trade agreement giving Cuba $100 million in economic aid
Castro also began receiving arms from the USSR, which American spied knew about
Bay of Pigs - Jan. 1961
Kennedy broke off relations with Cuba
JFK no longer could tolerate a Soviet Satellite in the USA’s sphere of influence
Instead of invading directly- devised under Eisenhower- JFK supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 anti-communist Castro exiles to invade Cuba intending to overthrow Castro
April 1961
Exiles landed at the bay of pigs, but the invasion failed disastrously
The exiles were met by 20,000 troops; armed with tanks and modern weapons
Castro captured or killed them all within days
Impact
Half-hearted invasion suggested to Cuba and the Soviets that the USA was unwilling to get directly involved in Cuba
Historians argue that the Bay of Pigs fiasco further strengthened Castor’s position in Cuba, and suggested to the USSR that Kennedy was weak
October Crisis
Krushchev arms Castro
Soviets sent arms into Cuba
May 1962: USSR even publicly announced that they were supplying Cuba with arms
By September, Castro had thousands of Soviet missiles, patrol boats, tanks, jet bombers, jet fighters and 5000 soviet technicians to help maintain these weapons
September 11th: JFK warns USSR that USA would take whatever measures if Cuba became a base for nuclear weapons → USSR responded by saying they had no intentions for this
US discovers Nuclear sites in Cuba
14th October 1962: American spy plane flew over Cuba, photographing missile sites
Military experts were sure that these sites were for nuclear missiles and were being built by the USSR
The experts said that the most developed of the sites could be ready to launch missiles in just 7 days
American spy planes also reported 20 Soviet ships currently on the way to Cuba carrying missiles
Why did the Soviets place Nuclear Missiles on Cuba?
The Soviets made no attempt to camouflage the sites, allowing missiles to travel on open decks. This was the first time USSR nuclear weapons was placed outside of Soviet territory
Bargain with the USA
He could agree to remove the missiles in return for American compromises
Test the USA
Close the Missile Gap
Making it less likely for the USA to launch a first strike
Defend Cuba
Cuba was the only (willing)communist state in the Western Hemisphere
Trap the USA
Wanted to draw the USA into a nuclear war
Strengthen his own position in the USSR
USA missile strength undermined Kruschev’s credibility, he needed to prove that his point of using nuclear missiles was a successful choice
Outcomes:
USA
Improved Kennedy’s reputation
Stood up to Krushchev and made him back down
Highlighted the weakness of their case: such intervention was not worth the high risk
NATO allies were unhappy with the removal of Turkey missiles without discussion but still accepted that the decision was better than nuclear war
Cuba would remain a communist government under Castro
Allies like Britain criticised America for having double standards when they had missiles in Turkey
USSR
Highlighted Krushchev as a peacemaker, willing to make a compromise
Kept Cuba safe from attack, as Cuba was an asset to the Soviets
Got USA to withdraw missiles in Turkey - done in secret
Forced to back down and remove missiles = humiliation
USSR still lagged behind USA in the arms race despite its attempt to catch up
1964: Krushchev was forced from power by his enemies inside the USSR - the Cuban missile crisis may have contributed as a factor
Cuba
Castro was very upset about Krushchev’s deal but accepted it to maintain their alliance with USSR
Cuba stayed communist and highly armed
Still remained an important base for communist operations in South America
Castro kept control of the American companies and economic resources be nationalised during the revolution
Cold War
Helped thaw Cold War relations as both saw how close they came to a nuclear war
They were now more prepared to reduce the risk of nuclear war
Hot line from the white house to the kremlin
1963 = Nuclear Test Ban Treaty limiting the testing and developing of weapons
→ It was clear that the USSR could not match US technology of numbers of weapons, but it was also unnecessary
→ Soviet arsenal was enough to make the USA respect USSR
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