Cuban Crisis - Part 2

Why did the USSR put nuclear missiles on Cuba? To close the [blank_start]missile[blank_end] gap: the [blank_start]Soviet[blank_end] leader, Khrushchev, knew the USA had medium and long-range nuclear missiles aimed at the [blank_start]USSR[blank_end] from bases in [blank_start]Turkey[blank_end], just on the USSR’s ‘doorstep’. [blank_start]Domestic[blank_end] politics: Khrushchev wanted to strengthen his [blank_start]political[blank_end] position in the USSR and show his government that he wasn’t [blank_start]soft[blank_end] on America. To [blank_start]protect[blank_end] Cuba: Khrushchev wanted to support the new [blank_start]communist[blank_end] country in ‘Uncle Sam’s [blank_start]backyard[blank_end]’, and ensure that the [blank_start]Americans[blank_end] would not attempt another incident like the Bay of Pigs and attempt to [blank_start]overthrow[blank_end] Castro.

What did Kennedy do on learning about the existence of missiles on Cuba?

What options were available to JFK?

Why did JFK opt to blockade Cuba?

Ignore the missiles: This would have been political suicide and it was likely the Soviets would see this as weakness on Kennedy’s part, and they would likely take advantage of it.

Get the United Nations involved: The USSR would block any UN action so this would be of little value. Kennedy thought involving the UN would not send out a strong enough message about American power in the world or be good for his reputation at home.

Call on the USSR to remove the missiles: He could do this by explaining the damage their presence was doing to Soviet-American relations. However, the USSR was highly unlikely to listen to a ‘polite’ request especially as they even refused to recognise the existence of the missiles at the UN emergency meeting on the matter.

Blockade Cuba and not allow any more Soviet ships to enter Cuba: This would still leave missiles on Cuba but the negotiations would continue in the background while publicly Kennedy would be seen to be doing something specific.

Invade with soldiers or launch air attacks: An unprovoked attack, involving air strikes probably followed by an invasion, would be hard to justify. This could lead to heavy US casualties and that would be politically damaging. It would almost certainly involve Soviet casualties which could escalate the problem.

22nd October: Kennedy imposes a [blank_start]naval[blank_end] blockade around [blank_start]Cuba[blank_end], to stop the [blank_start]Soviet[blank_end] ships suspected of carrying [blank_start]nuclear[blank_end] missiles from reaching Cuba.

October 23: Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviet ships will not stop at the blockade, but will force their way through.

October 24: [blank_start]180[blank_end] US ships, submarines, troops and Air Force were placed on [blank_start]full alert[blank_end]. Despite Khrushchev’s ‘tough talk', the [blank_start]twenty[blank_end] ships approaching the blockade [blank_start]turn back[blank_end] (presumably to avoid direct [blank_start]confrontation[blank_end] with the US Navy).

October 26: Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev promising to remove the launch sites if the USA agrees to lift the blockade and promises not to invade Cuba.

October 27: A [blank_start]second[blank_end] letter from Khrushchev says the launch sites will [blank_start]only[blank_end] be removed if the [blank_start]US[blank_end] [blank_start]removes[blank_end] its missiles in [blank_start]Turkey[blank_end]. [blank_start]Tension[blank_end] increased when a [blank_start]U2[blank_end] plane was shot down by a [blank_start]Russian[blank_end] missile and the pilot [blank_start]killed[blank_end]. However, [blank_start]Kennedy[blank_end] keeps his cool and opts to answer only the [blank_start]first[blank_end] telegram while [blank_start]privately[blank_end] offering to consider the removal of [blank_start]missiles[blank_end] from Turkey.

October 27: [blank_start]Bobby[blank_end] Kennedy met with the [blank_start]Soviet[blank_end] Ambassador and agreed a deal to resolve the crisis. The President gave a [blank_start]warning[blank_end] that if he did not receive a reply by 29 October an [blank_start]invasion[blank_end] of Cuba would begin. In a [blank_start]public[blank_end] message to President Kennedy broadcast on [blank_start]Moscow[blank_end] radio, [blank_start]Khrushchev[blank_end] agrees to the removal of all missiles on Cuba and their return to the Soviet Union.