Cuban Missile Crisis Lecture Notes

Cuba was geographically close to the USA, only 90 miles away.
Major exports from Cuba to the USA included sugar, cigars, and bananas.
In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew General Batista, a pro-American dictator.
Post-revolution, Castro nationalized American-owned industries and banks.
The USA, aiming to remove Castro, cut off trade and refused to provide economic aid.
On April 1961, President Kennedy approved the failed Bay of Pigs invasion using 1,500 anti-Castro exiles.
Castro declared himself a Communist in 1961, aggravating US fears of communism spreading to its borders.

During 1960-1962, Cuba's relationship with the USSR strengthened due to US hostility.
By 1962, over 80% of Cuba's trade involved the USSR and Eastern Europe, receiving credit and machinery in exchange for sugar and tobacco.
After the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Castro sought military assistance from the USSR, leading to the deployment of over 40,000 Russian soldiers and equipment to Cuba in summer 1962.
Secretly, the USSR sent 43 nuclear missiles to Cuba, establishing bases that posed a strategic threat to the USA.
The USSR needed a foothold in the USA's sphere of influence to catch up in the arms race, given that the USA had missiles in Turkey.

Cuban Revolution (1959): Castro's rise to power and subsequent social reforms upset US economic interests.
Cuba turns to the USSR: Castro's nationalization of industries led to reduced US trade and increased reliance on the USSR for economic and military support.
Bay of Pigs Failure: The failed invasion in April 1961 drove Castro closer to the USSR, prompting military assistance from Khrushchev.
Missile Discovery (1962): US intelligence discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba in October 1962, prompting urgent action from Kennedy.

October 16, 1962: Kennedy forms EXCOMM for crisis management amidst military pressure for invasion.
October 22, 1962: Kennedy announces a naval blockade of Cuba.
October 23: Khrushchev states he will ignore the blockade, claiming missiles are for protection.
October 24: Soviet ships are ordered to defy the blockade.
October 25: Some Soviet ships turn back without confrontation; one oil tanker reaches Cuba.
October 26: Khrushchev offers to remove missiles in exchange for US non-invasion promise.
October 27: A second letter from Khrushchev demands US missiles be removed from Turkey; a U2 spy plane is shot down.
October 28: Khrushchev accepts Kennedy's terms and the crisis ends; US agrees to secret missile removal from Turkey.
November 20, 1962: Soviet bombers depart Cuba, and US blockade is lifted.

Recognition of nuclear war risks increased communications (e.g., the Hot Line) between superpowers.
The Cuban Missile Crisis instigated arms control efforts: the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (1969).
Khrushchev's leadership suffered; he was ousted in October 1964, partially due to his role in the crisis.
The resolution of the crisis prevented similar confrontations in the future, initiating a period of détente.

USSR's Perspective:
- Castro remained in power as a communist ally.
- Stopped US invasion efforts and gained a strategic advantage.
- Propaganda portrayed Khrushchev as a peacemaker.
USA's Perspective:
- Kennedy gained stature as a leader who confronted USSR effectively.
- The perceived Soviet retreat reinforced US strength, especially since missile removals from Turkey remained secret.
- JFK maintained a cool composure throughout the crisis despite provocations.
- Khrushchev's eventual ousting was influenced by the crisis' failings, marking a significant shift in Soviet leadership dynamics.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, demonstrating the importance of diplomacy in avoiding nuclear conflict and reshaping the future relations between the USA and USSR.

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