THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
CAUSES
RESULTS/SIGNIFICANCE
BACKGROUND
Fidel Castro took over Cuba from pro-US Fulgencio Batista, implemented reforms that gave land back to peasants (from US companies)
Castro began as socialist revolutionary but became Communist after anti-US sentiment and pressure to pick a Cold War side led him to contact USSR for support, who sent over officials in 1960
In the 50s USSR regarded LATAM as US sphere of influence but when Castro's socialist revolution succeeded they took notice - USSR foreign minister returned from trip to Cuba with glowing account of the Revolution
US
USSR/CUBA
Monroe Doctrine (1823) gave US right to intervene if any other power attempted to establish authority in LATAM
Kennedy applied Domino Theory in Cuba
Existence of Jupiter missiles in Turkey led to USSR security anxieties
USSR wish to counter Jupiter missiles
US wanted to protect economic interests in Cuba - reduced sugar imports in response to Cuba nationalisation of oil companies
Khrushchev wanted to decrease conventional forces and increase nuclear power
Cuba turned to USSR for help in Bay of Pigs invasion
Bases on Cuba gave USSR nuclear parity as they lack the ICBM firepower of US
Increased JFK prestige as he supposedly called Khrushchev's bluff
Khrushchev criticised by Communists in USSR, Castro and Mao
Cuba - saw USSR withdrawal as a betrayal; began its policy of aiding socialist revolutionary causes
Increased push for global nuclear disarmament - 1963 Test Ban Treaty, 1968 Non-Proliferation Agreement
Hotline established between US and USSR leaders in 1963
Both sides increasingly inclined to negotiation afterwards
USSR shocked and afraid at US nuclear superiority
CONCLUSION
With the small sacrifice of prestige, USSR gained a Communist ‘ally’ near the US, removed threatening nuclear warheads from Turkey and started a move towards nuclear disarmament that reduced the ‘missile gap’ between themselves and the US.
Future measures to avoid a repeat of the crisis were set up - 1963 and 1968 nuclear agreements, along with the hotline to avoid the delay of diplomats in resolving crises
The fact that neither side acted despite coming to the brink of nuclear war confirmed the efficacy of M.A.D., but also demonstrated the missile gap between US and USSR up to 1962, with US managing to get a much favourable deal
Many US companies in Cuba pre-Castro - US financial incentive to keep capitalism there
Threats to a (new) USSR ally - Operation Mongoose
USSR diplomat - 'you will never be able to do this to us again' - PRESCIENT
Khrushchev misunderstood US mentality - thought that they would allow missiles so close to US shores
US didn't recognise USSR actions as defensive, JFK made a crisis by making the news public