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REASONS FOR CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS (Tensions btwn US & Cuba (American…
REASONS FOR CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Significance of Cuba to USA
Strategic importance
geographically close and gateway to Carribean
thus extremely impt to US security and important to any power who wished to control the area
reflected in
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
US viewed Americas as sphere of influence
involved in Cuban War of independence
After Spain's defeat, pro- american govt were set up in cuba
Not allowed to make alliance with other countries w/o US approval
Economic value
Major producer of sugar and tobbaco (in high demand)
Americans invested heavily in Sugar and tobacco industry.
(American companies owned 60% of Cuban Sugar Industry)
US was a major market for its goods
Cuban economy was largely dominated by US
Tensions btwn US & Cuba
American political intervention in Cuba
Installing of puppet leaders i.e.
Batista
grew Anti-American sentiments who did so to safeguard own's interests
rule was corrupted, oppressed and exploited Cuba's commercial interests
US still supported for fear that opposition may bring about communism in Cuba
Castro's policies that threatened US investments in Cuba
Land reform law (1959)
owners of large estates had to return land to govt
large plots of land redistributed to smaller land to run as communes
foreigners no longer allowed to own plantations
to Castro, this was aimed at solving problem of inequality
confirmed Castro's communist inclination
adversely affected US economy
Seeking new markets for Cuban Sugar (1959)
wanted to reduce reliance on
Cuban Sugar Quota
1 mil of tonnes of sugar sold to USSR over 5 yrs
Soviet trade delegation sent to cuba to improve trading relations
barter trade cuban sugar for russian oil agreed upon
US was suspicious as better trade relation seemed to indicated alignment with communist bloc
reduced reliance on US also threatened US investments
Cuban revolution & Castro's rise to power(1959)
did not accede to US's condition of establishing democratic govt (elections)
US feared Castro's govt and foothold communism had over Cuba
Castro's friendship with Khrushchev at UN General Assembly meeting(1960)
stayed in Harlem, high poverty rate & african-american pop
visited by Khrushchev at hotel (political sig) (double demonstration discrimination)
championed rights of african-americans at UN
insulted US who did not want to grant rights, embarrassing them
pointed out imperfections of US and flaws of capitalist system
seen as associating himself openly with communism
Escalating tensions due to US retaliation against Cuba
Bay of pigs invasion (1961)
:star:
by CIA to overthrow Castro's govt by training cuban exiles
military disaster, Castro was well prepared
able to rally nationalist sentiments
diplomatic disaster, humiliation, angering int. communities
Operation mongoose (1961)
no success in destroying Cuba's economy and assassinating Castro
Economic Pressure (1960)
300,000 tonnes of oil frm USSR to Cuba not processed
reduced
cuban sugar quota
frm 3mil tonnes to 700,000 tonnes
retaliated by
nationalising
US props
US embargo
on US exports excpt medicine and food
US embargo ineffective bc USSR supported Cuba, bought 4 mil tonnes of sugar
economic support by USSR and its allies enabled land reforms and nationalisation
30% farmland, 80% industry under national ownership
Cuba's formal alliance with Soviet (1961)
Bay of pigs
, increased presence at guantanamo bay naval base, military exercise at Carribbean, convinced US intent of invading Cuba
Cuba concerned about national security sought USSR as strong ally that cld compete against US
declared communist, reorganised govt to fit model of communism
USSR reasons
To test US and new US pres
miscalculations
Vienna Summit(1961)
failure to negotiate meaningful concessions led Khrushchev to believe Kennedy was weak
wrongly believed that Kennedy wld back down
To protect Cuba (from US-Cuba relations)
Cuba's fear of invasion, convinced of invasion
drove an alliance with USSR allowed USSR strategic foothold in Caribbeans
resulted in soviet missile base in cuba and eventually cuban missile crisis
however to cuba & USSR, it wld protect Cuba
As bargaining chips to bargain with US
removal of
jupiter missiles in Turkey and Italy
Result of Soviet insecurity
behind on arms race
USSR missiles cld only lauch against EU
Jupiter missiles in Turkey
,150 miles from USSR cld strike enitre nation
cuban missiles wld reduce US strategic advantage
deter a potential US attack