An evaluation of the reasons for the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962

An evaluation of the reasons for the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis: Background

  • The confrontation known as the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union.

  • It was the most dangerous direct confrontation between the two superpowers during the entire Cold War period.

  • The crisis began when the US discovered that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, which is less than 100 miles from the United States.

  • The key players involved were President John F. Kennedy of the US, Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union, and Fidel Castro of Cuba.

Causes

  • The Soviet Union’s installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba was a response to US putting Jupiter missiles in Turkey, which posed a threat to the USSR. This move was an assertion of Soviet power and an attempt to redress the geopolitical balance.

  • The US had been involved in a series of anti-Castro activities, including the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. This increased the desire of the Castro regime to seek Soviet protection, which led to the missile placements.

  • US’s policy of containment, aimed at preventing the spread of communism, was also a root cause of the conflict. It led to a fear of a “domino effect” whereby the influence of communism might spread through Latin America.

Consequences

  • The crisis resulted in both superpowers being on the brink of nuclear war. This highlighted the sheer level of tension and fear during the Cold War.

  • As a direct result of the crisis, a series of important nuclear disarmament agreements were introduced to prevent such an event from happening again.

  • This event ushered in a period of détente, a relaxation of tension between the two superpowers.

  • Despite this reduction in tension, the event significantly damaged Soviet-US relations. The perception that the Soviet Union had ‘blinked’ first in the crisis psychologically boosted American morale and prestige.

  • For Cuba, the crisis highlighted that it needed Soviet protection hence increasing its dependency on the Soviet Union.