The Cuban Missile Crisis

What is the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most direct and dangerous confrontations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War in 1962. This crisis was a very significant moment in US national security and nuclear war preparation.

How did this occur?

The USA and Cuba had a sound relationship between two countries prior to 1959, whereas the USA realized Cuba was a gateway to the Caribbean Islands, which are located in close proximity to the USA, and signified its geographical location as very vital for US security. In 1898, the USA intervened in the Cuban War of Independence against Spain, which led the USA to set up a pro-US government in Cuba as well. As such, the Cuban government did not allow Cuba to make alliances with other countries without the USA's approval. Besides its geographical significance to the USA's security, many USA companies invested largely in Cuba as the Cubans produced sugar and tobacco which were in high demand in the USA. The USA companies owned 60% of the Cuban sugar industry by 1962 though many Cubans showed displeasure for the economic dominance of the USA over Cuba.

The Cuban citizen hugely criticized then President Colonel Batista for his dictatorship with lots of corruption. He was criticized for engaging with the US mafia and business to exploit Cuba’s commercial interests. However, Fidel Castro came to power on 01 January 1959 and the relations between the USA and Cuba got worse thereafter.

Fidel Castro introduced new policies in Cuba immediately after he became president and turned towards the USSR to exchange Cuban Sugar rather than depend on the USA’s demand.  However, these newly implemented policies made the USA think about removing Castro from power. As such, the USA made decisions to put economic pressure on Cuba to remove Castro from power by banning American exports to Cuba except food and medicine in view of crippling Cuba’s economy in 1960. However, the USSR stepped forward to fulfill Cuba’s economic needs by reaffirming the USA's perception of Cuba’s close relationship with the USSR. The effort made by the USA to use economic dominance to force Castro to change policy or bring down Castro’s government was ineffective.

After an ineffective effort to overthrow Castro from power, the CIA in the USA planned for an invasion which was named as the ‘Bay of Pigs Invasion’ on 15 April 1961 to remove Castro by training exiled Cuban fighters who were equipped and trained by Americans. However, the USA refused to involve itself in supporting the Cuban government, even though they were behind the invasion. Castro then turned to the USSR for help by reaffirming the USA's perception of Cuba’s close relationship with the USSR.

After several failures to overthrow Castro, the USA carried out its secret CIA operation which was named as ‘Operation Mongoose’. It was authorized by President Kennedy in November 1961 to Sabotage important Cuban industries, assassinate key Cuban leaders and encourage Cubans to rise up against Castro. By 1975, it was reported that there had been 24 different attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. At this point, Castro realized that the USA was hostile to his government and this made Castro move closer to the USSR.

Who are the key leaders of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The main key leaders of the Cuban Missile Crisis were as follows:

1.    Nikita Khrushchev - Premier Nikita Khrushchev was the first Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

2.    Fidel Castro- He became a dictator of Cuba in 1959. When Castro came into power, the relationship between the USA and Cuba got worse as he introduced a few policies in Cuba and aligned with the USSR.

3.    President John F. Kennedy - The President Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States.

Overall synopsis of the operation

After the failed attempts made by the USA to overthrow Castro in Cuba with the Bay of Pigs invasion and Operation Mongoose in July 1962, Soviet Nikita Khrushchev placed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba upon a secret agreement with Castro having intention to deter any future invasion attempts.  Construction of several missile launch sites and bases began in the late summer as Khrushchev wanted to use Cuba as leverage to demand more concessions regarding West Berlin and increase USSR prestige. As such, Soviet soldiers covered as Russian tourists were transported to Cuba on cruise ships with nuclear warheads on 04 October 1962. However, President Kennedy had already issued a public warning against the introduction of offensive weapons into Cuba on September 4, 1962, upon discovering evidence by US intelligence of a general Soviet arms build-up in Cuba.

On 14 October 1962, Major Richard Heyser who piloted an American U-2 Spy plane photographed a Soviet SS-4 medium range ballistic missile being assembled for installation while making a high-altitude pass over Cuba. The president Kennedy was briefed about the situation on 16 October 1962 and he summoned his close advisors officially called the executive committee or ExComm to consider options and direct a course of action that would solve the potential threat to the USA. In this gathering, some of his advisors proposed an air strike to destroy the missiles followed by a U.S. invasion of Cuba. The rest of his advisors proposed stern warnings to Cuba and the Soviet Union. However, the President decided to take a middle course.

In addition, the Cuban Missile Crisis is a great example of American Strategy of brinkmanship whereas the president Kennedy demanded the USSR to remove the missile from Cuba. On 22 October 1962, the president Kennedy also ordered a naval quarantine around Cuba where the all Shipps going towards Cuba would be checked. On that same day 22 October 1962, the President Kennedy also sent a letter to Khrushchev declaring that the USA would not allow offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba and demanded to disassemble the missile bases that are under construction or completed, and return all weapons back to the USSR.

This act of quarantine by the US made the both USSR and Cuba annoyed and Khrushchev responded to Kennedy’s letter stating that the blockade was an act of aggression. Nevertheless, during October 24 and 25, some ships were turned back from the quarantine line and others were stopped by U.S naval forces and allowed them to proceed since there were contained no offensive weapons.  During this time, the Soviet forces in Cuba were placed on high alert and instructions were secretly given to use nuclear power if the US forces invade Cuba. Fidel Castro also deployed his Cuban army and declared to fight. All in all, the whole world was on the edge of a huge nuclear war withal.

Meanwhile, the U.S reconnaissance flights over Cuba frequently conducted reconnaissance of missile sights and found still in operational readiness rather ending the crisis in sight. On 26 October 1962, the President Kennedy told his advisors that only a U.S attack on Cuba would remove the missiles. But he waited on giving a little more time to political channel. On the same day, Khrushchev sent Kennedy a message presenting a proposed solution in which the Soviets would remove their missiles from Cuba if the US promise not to invade Cuba. However, the Castro was declaring that he would shoot American spy planes and giving his support for the ongoing construction of the missile sites. The next day, 27 October 1962, Khrushchev sent another message demanding the removal of U.S missiles from Turkey while Castro was preparing for war against the USA.

However, tensions between the two parties escalated once the Soviet commander shot down a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance jet over Cuba on that same day, 27 October 1962 and the troops were ordered by Moscow not to use the arms and missiles without permission. This incident made both leaders concerned about the lack of direct control over their military leaders and urge an agreement as soon as possible.

THE US RESPONSE TO THE USSR PROPOSAL

President Kennedy ignored the second message from Khrushchev and responded to the first one, warning the Soviet ambassador that an airstrike would start in 24 Hrs. Nevertheless, Kennedy met secretly with the Soviet Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Dobrygin and emphasized that the US intends to remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey anyway. These secret meetings showed President Kennedy’s unwillingness to be seen in public as bowing to the demands of the enemy.

            THE USSR RESPONSE TO THE US DEMANDS

On 28 October 1962, Khrushchev issued a public statement that Soviet missiles would be disassembled and removed from Cuba though he was really afraid that any reckless actions taken by war-hungry Castro would jeopardize the negotiations. However, Castro was annoyed at Khrushchev’s actions to remove missiles from Cuba. However, missiles were eventually removed on 22 November 1962.

Finally, the Cuban Missile Crisis was peacefully ended because of the healthy cooperation between Kennedy and Khrushchev. Both leaders were well aware of the consequences of a nuclear war but omitted engaging in one.