IEB History.
Details the successive clashes between the USSR and the USA that comprise the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the context of the Cold War, this note studies this historical event through the lens of specific Cold War concepts (i.e. brinkmanship and sphere of influence) as both the USA and ...
• Cuba had been under US influence
• Cuba was ruled by US-supported dictatorship that was brutal and completely corrupt
• US had great influence over the Cuban economy — large naval base at Guantanamo Bay; US companies
controlled much of Cuba’s wealth, USA bought most of Cuba’s sugar
• 40% of people were illiterate and 2% of people owned half of the land
• 1959: Cuban RevoluMon took place and was led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
• RelaMons between the two countries grew hosMle following this overthrow of authority
• Castro was a naMonalist who hoped to gain Cuba’s independence from the USA
• Castro introduced some reforms, including the naMonalisaMon of some industries
• His acMons threatened US influence and their economic interest in Cuba
• The US chose to cut all Mes between themselves and Cuba
• In turn, Cuba looked to the USSR for trade relaMons and aid - the Soviet Union provided numerous
technicians and advisors
USA v Castro’s Cuba
• The USA planned to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro
• Eisenhower had planned an invasion of Cuba with CIA-trained Cuban exiles before he was removed
from power
• 1961: Kennedy chose to adopt this plan
• The Exiles/La Brigada were trained by the CIA
• April 1961: The Bay of Pigs — CIA-trained exiles were completely defeated by Cuban troops. Though the
US had anMcipated an uprising against Castro following this invasion, this failed to materialise which led
to the invasion’s disastrous outcome - humiliaMng for Kennedy
• As a result, the US began forming mulMple plans each with the intenMon of destabilising the Cuban
government — known as the “Cuban Project” or “OperaMon Mongoose”
• The USSR assisted Cuba in installing both convenMonal and nuclear weapons
• Krushchev claimed that these weapons were for Cuba’s defence and in no way offensive like those in
Turkey set up by the USA
• Subsequently, Castro commiaed himself to communism
Krushchev’s Decision
• Krushchev chose to establish missiles in Cuba in order to create a war deterrent under the assumpMon
that Kennedy would not threaten nuclear warfare
• Krushchev believed that in doing so he would balance the threat the USSR faced from the USA’s missile
bases in Turkey and Italy
• As well as this, Krushchev hoped to improve the USSR’s status in the nuclear arms race
• Krushchev also used this as a means of leverage to secure control in Berlin
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