The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

• Cuba was just 90 miles off the coast of Florida.
• Until January 1959, it had be ruled by corrupt US-backed dictator, General Batista, till he was overthrown by Fidel Castro.
  • He instigated a social revolution by starting to nationalise companies (many US owned).
• The US applied pressue by cutting off economic assistence - they refused to but Sugar (Cubas's main export!)
  • So Castro had to turn to the USSR for economic aid - they offered to buy Cuban sugar, provide machinery, oil and technological assistance.
• The Bay of Pigs invasion.
• It would give the Soviets a first-capability - cut warning time from 30 minutes to just 2.
• There was a missile gap in the US favour. Thos would allow the Soviets to catch up.
• The USA had Jupiter missiles in turkey - so why couldn' t the Soviets put missiles on Cuba?
• Bargaining chip for Berlin. For the withdrawal of weapons Khrushchev could ask for Berlin.
• Provide an opportunity to test the resolve of JFK.

• 25th September, Soviet ships leave for Cuba, containing nuclear warheads and long-range missiles.
• 16th October, JFK informed of Khrushchev's plans 
• 20th October, JFK decides to impose naval blockade to prevent ships from reaching the island.
• 22nd October, JFK gives a public address officialy declaring the blockade and calling for Khrushchev to recall th ships.
• 23rd October, Khrushchev sends JFK a lteer saying Soviet ships will break throught the blockade.
• 24th October, Khrushchev issues a statemnt that the USSR will launch nuclear weapons if America goes to war BUT at the same time 18 Soviet ships were turned around to avoid confrontation, JFK demanded the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba otherwise the US would invade.
• 26th October, Khrushchev sent JFK a letter offering to remove the missiles if the blockade was removed and there wasd a promise not to invade Cuba.
• 27th October, he sends a 2nd letter that set out tougher terms to appease hardliners in the USSR. He promised the removal of missiles if the the US removed their missiles in Turkey. A U2 spy plane shot down over Cuba as tension increased.
• 28th October, JFK decidesto ignore 2nd letter and accept the first one. Only if there was a positve USSR response by th 29th otherwise they would invade Cuba.
  • Khrushchev agreed. Secretly the American agreed to remove the turkish missiles at a later date.

Khrushchev

• Seen as a deafeat - he appeared to back down.
• BUT deal to remove turkish missiles were kept secret at the time.
• Never recovered his position and soon fell from power in 1964.

World peace

• Scared both sides!
• Both sides relised relations had to be improved beacuse it was the closet the two got to MAD!
• Led to improved relations of the DETENTE PERIOD

Superpower agreements

• August 1963 limited test ban treaty signed by USA, USSR, UK to stop future nuclear tests space, sea or above ground. ONLY UNDERGROUND - TO AVOID NUCLEAR FALLOUT!!!

The Arms Race

• Soviets determined not to be pushed around by the US - they needed to catch up on the arms race.
• By 1965 they both were equal in terms of nuclear capabilites.
• This created stability in their relationship as both sides relised nuclear war would end in MAD.

France

• Left NATO
• They did not want to fight with alongside America if it ended in war. The treaty would obligate them to do so!