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Other reasons for CMC, JFK (with executive committee of American National…

- - - - Political gains
        
        use missiles as leverage (power to influence a person or situation)
        
        to demand for concessions about the status of West Berlin, which he believed should be part of East Germany
        
        Increase Khruschev's prestige among communist bloc with successful defence of Cuba
      - Military gains
        
        counter the threat of US Jupiter missiles stationed in Turkey as USSR would have missiles that could reach US
      - Strategic gains
        
        enable USSR to secure a base geographically close to US
    - - believed US would not insist the missiles to be removed once installed
    - - boost defence of Cuba as he was convinced that USA can launch a large-scale invasion
  - - - JFK addressed the US public on 22 Oct 1962 through television about the discovery of missiles in Cuba, and announced a Naval blockade around Cuba to ensure vessels bound for Cuba did not contain weapons
- - - - NATO placed Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Italy 3 years before USSR put missiles in Cuba, which made Russian cities within range uncomfortable
      - Khruschev intended to give USA a taste of its own medicine and ensure removal of US missiles in Turkey
      - Missiles meant to scare USA into giving in to Russian demand for removing US missiles
    - - Believed US president will back down, thus established Soviet missiles in USA's backyard to address stategic imbalance of US
      - Both leaders failed to resolve differences, Khruschev saw JFK as a weak president who lacked the power to negotiate any meaningful concessions
      - In June 1961, John F. Kennedy (i.e. new president) attended a summit with Khruschev to discuss cold war confrontations, especially in Berlin
    - - Thus, Castro sought alliance with USSR, which laid ground for Soviet missile base in Cuba to protect Cuba from being attacked by USA
      - Castro was aware of US's attempts to oust him (Bay of Pigs invasion, Operation Mongoose, CIA covert operations to damage Castro government etc.) -> feared invasion from US
    - - By installing missiles in Cuba, USA's strategic advantage in missiles will be reduced, provide a deterrent to a potential "first strike" attack by the US, as Soviet missiles were within striking distance of US cities
      - RESULT: Khruschev wanted to gain a military advantage against the US
      - USSR was desperately behind USA in arms race in 1962
        
        some US missiles in Turkey were capable in striking entire USSR
        
        Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe
        
        USA had more nuclear missiles
- - - - Khruschev was determined not to start another war after experienced WW2
      - Destructive power of nuclear weapons made JFK unwilling to take advantage of missile gap by starting a war
  - - - JFK's party was facing mid-term elections in Congress
      - Khruschev was facing Hardliners in Communist Party who threatened to overthrow him if USSR appeared weak
  - - - British PM publicly supported JFK's decision to blockade Cuba, but urged caution privately, to which he pointed out that Europeans lived within the range of Soviet missiles for years and the US is 'overreacting', which might lead to the split in NATO
      - Castro urged Khruschev to stay firm, declaring that his people were willing to die in defence of their homeland, Mao promised Castro that millions of Chinese were prepared to fight for the communist bloc
      - Overall, international reactions reminded both leaders the consequences of war and thus they chose peaceful resolution
- - - - A Moscow-Washington hotline was set up between the Kremlin and the White House
        
        Leaders could quickly contact each other in a state of emergency
      - US missiles in Turkey and italy were removed
      - USA, USSR and UK signed Nuclear Test Ban treaty, where the nuclear tests were limited to underground only (it did not stop the development of weapons)
  - - - Made USSR appear weak
    - - The CSC made Khruschev's successors more determined to achieve nuclear parity to avoid another humiliation in a nuclear stand-off
  - - - After removal of missiles in Cuba, the Chinese accused USSR of being weak; Claimed that China was the true leader of communist movements
      - many communist parties around the world broke into two
        
        weakened unity/solidarity of International Communsit movements
  - - - Lost nuclear protection due to removal of Soviet nuclear missiles, but USSR promised to still help Cuba if it was attacked, USSR made USA not to invade Cuba