Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis1414thth-28-28thth October 1972 October 1972

-Main actors: -Main actors: (i)(i) John F Kennedy (US President) John F Kennedy (US President)

subsequently assassinatedsubsequently assassinated(ii)(ii) Nikita Khrushchev (USSR’s leader) Nikita Khrushchev (USSR’s leader)

subsequently overthrownsubsequently overthrown(iii)(iii) Fidel Castro (Cuba’s leader) still Fidel Castro (Cuba’s leader) still

alive!alive!

Origins of the Cuban Missile CrisisOrigins of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Who was to blame? Who was to blame? Main points:Main points: -America?-America? Over-reacted to presence of a leftist Over-reacted to presence of a leftist

regime in Cuba, threatened Cuba’s security by threatening regime in Cuba, threatened Cuba’s security by threatening invasion, which pushed her into USSR’s arms, thus leading invasion, which pushed her into USSR’s arms, thus leading to an escalation of tensions?to an escalation of tensions?

-USSR?-USSR? Took advantage of the situation in Cuba to gain Took advantage of the situation in Cuba to gain a foothold in an area that was crucial to America’s security. a foothold in an area that was crucial to America’s security. This act led to the escalation of tensions and changed the This act led to the escalation of tensions and changed the nature of the dispute, from between two neighbouring nature of the dispute, from between two neighbouring countries into a high-stakes dispute between two countries into a high-stakes dispute between two superpowers?superpowers?

-Cuba?-Cuba? Paranoid about American invasion, and Paranoid about American invasion, and subsequently manipulated super-power politics to forestall subsequently manipulated super-power politics to forestall American invasion and guarantee her security?American invasion and guarantee her security?

Central theme: Safeguarding one’s Central theme: Safeguarding one’s national securitynational security

(i) -A threat to one’s national security can lead to a (i) -A threat to one’s national security can lead to a country taking extreme measures. country taking extreme measures.

E.g. to wage war/take pre-emptive strike on a E.g. to wage war/take pre-emptive strike on a perceived threat. perceived threat.

(ii)-Conversely, a compromise can be reached when (ii)-Conversely, a compromise can be reached when both countries seek to put aside their pride and to both countries seek to put aside their pride and to put the safeguarding of national security as the put the safeguarding of national security as the goal of utmost importance. goal of utmost importance.

E.g. there was a measure of a loss of face for both E.g. there was a measure of a loss of face for both USA and USSR when both backed down from their USA and USSR when both backed down from their belligerent stance, but as a result, a compromise belligerent stance, but as a result, a compromise was achieved that allowed for both countries to was achieved that allowed for both countries to protect their national security.protect their national security.

Who was to blame? Who was to blame? USAUSA Over-reacted to situation and led to escalation of conflict. Over-reacted to situation and led to escalation of conflict. -E.g. Wanted to help Cuban exiles to overthrow the Castro -E.g. Wanted to help Cuban exiles to overthrow the Castro

government (which was hostile to USA). CIA under President government (which was hostile to USA). CIA under President Eisenhower had sought to help the anti-Castro rebels to Eisenhower had sought to help the anti-Castro rebels to overthrow the regime.overthrow the regime.

-E.g. Organised -E.g. Organised Operation ZapataOperation Zapata that was carried out on 17 that was carried out on 17thth April 1961. Failed miserably. April 1961. Failed miserably.

-E.g. America followed this with -E.g. America followed this with Operation MongooseOperation Mongoose which which aimed to destabilise Cuba through acts of sabotage, aimed to destabilise Cuba through acts of sabotage, economic warfare through embargo on Cuban imports, economic warfare through embargo on Cuban imports, increasing Cuban’s diplomatic isolation through its expulsion increasing Cuban’s diplomatic isolation through its expulsion from the Organisation of American States and simulating from the Organisation of American States and simulating military exercises (code named Ortsac) aimed at toppling an military exercises (code named Ortsac) aimed at toppling an imaginary dictator. (Edwards, 2002: 127-8)imaginary dictator. (Edwards, 2002: 127-8)

-Analysis: America was trying to topple Castro through isolating -Analysis: America was trying to topple Castro through isolating Cuba, and in doing so, increased the hostility of the Castro Cuba, and in doing so, increased the hostility of the Castro regime against the USA and accentuated the fear of regime against the USA and accentuated the fear of invasion, thereby prompting Castro to turn to Moscow for invasion, thereby prompting Castro to turn to Moscow for help to defend Cuba from America. (Because Castro was help to defend Cuba from America. (Because Castro was aware that Cuba could not possibly defend herself against aware that Cuba could not possibly defend herself against America.) (Edwards 2002: 126, 128)America.) (Edwards 2002: 126, 128)

Who was to blame? Who was to blame? USSRUSSR Should not have gotten involved with Cuba? Should not have gotten involved with Cuba? -E.g. Feb 1960: Extended $100 million worth of credits to -E.g. Feb 1960: Extended $100 million worth of credits to

Cuba. (Edwards, 2002: 125)Cuba. (Edwards, 2002: 125)-E.g. May 1962: USSR deployed regiments and weapons to -E.g. May 1962: USSR deployed regiments and weapons to

Cuba, including nuclear cruise missiles and mid-range Cuba, including nuclear cruise missiles and mid-range ballistic ballistic missilesmissiles that could strike targets in USA’s interior. that could strike targets in USA’s interior. Had stationed 40,000 military personnel in Cuba. Had stationed 40,000 military personnel in Cuba.

-Analysis: This was an indication of economic expansion into -Analysis: This was an indication of economic expansion into an area that ranked high on America’s defence priority. an area that ranked high on America’s defence priority. Sponsorship of Castro’s regime and subsequent creation of Sponsorship of Castro’s regime and subsequent creation of a de-facto military base in Cuba appeared to be a a de-facto military base in Cuba appeared to be a deliberate affront to America’s national security. Cuba’s deliberate affront to America’s national security. Cuba’s strategic importance to America can be likened to Poland’s strategic importance to America can be likened to Poland’s importance to USSR. Transporting of military aid importance to USSR. Transporting of military aid (especially missiles) to Cuba thus escalated a crisis (especially missiles) to Cuba thus escalated a crisis between 2 neighbouring countries into a Cold War issue between 2 neighbouring countries into a Cold War issue that threatened World peace. that threatened World peace.

Who was to blame? Who was to blame? CubaCuba Manipulated super-power politics to guarantee Manipulated super-power politics to guarantee

security of borders and to legitimise the new Castro security of borders and to legitimise the new Castro regime.regime.

E.g. Turned to USSR for economic and military help, E.g. Turned to USSR for economic and military help, so that it would not have to play the role of a so that it would not have to play the role of a submissive little brother to America. submissive little brother to America.

Castro: “Moscow is our brain and our great leader.”Castro: “Moscow is our brain and our great leader.” Analysis: By using USSR as a counter-weight to USA, Analysis: By using USSR as a counter-weight to USA,

Cuba was shrewdly manipulating super-power Cuba was shrewdly manipulating super-power politics for its own advantage. Castro was aware politics for its own advantage. Castro was aware that Cuba’s distance from Moscow meant that it that Cuba’s distance from Moscow meant that it would be given a large measure of independence would be given a large measure of independence from Moscow, as opposed to the tight leash that it from Moscow, as opposed to the tight leash that it would be kept on had they decided to concede to would be kept on had they decided to concede to American superiority. Therefore, the escalation of American superiority. Therefore, the escalation of conflict was to some extent orchestrated by Cuba conflict was to some extent orchestrated by Cuba for her own benefit, as it meant that she would not for her own benefit, as it meant that she would not have to fight the American behemoth on her own, have to fight the American behemoth on her own, but had USSR’s backing.but had USSR’s backing.

Answering questionsAnswering questions

To what extent was USSR to blame for the To what extent was USSR to blame for the escalation of conflict between Cuba and escalation of conflict between Cuba and America? (factor question)America? (factor question)

-Given factor: USSR-Given factor: USSR

-Other factors: USA and Cuba-Other factors: USA and Cuba

-Conclusion: Pick one factor and show -Conclusion: Pick one factor and show convincingly why that country was mostly convincingly why that country was mostly to blame, in relation to the other countries.to blame, in relation to the other countries.

*Activity: Come up with conclusion.*Activity: Come up with conclusion.

Answering questionsAnswering questions

““The USSR was chiefly to blame for the The USSR was chiefly to blame for the outbreak of the Cuban Missile Crisis.” Do outbreak of the Cuban Missile Crisis.” Do you agree? EYA. (Perspective question)you agree? EYA. (Perspective question)

Prosecutor: Yes, USSR to blameProsecutor: Yes, USSR to blame Defence lawyer (for USSR): No, USSR not to Defence lawyer (for USSR): No, USSR not to

blame, USA/Cuba more to blame.blame, USA/Cuba more to blame. Judge: Have to come up with a Judge: Have to come up with a balanced balanced

assessment, but assessment, but also to apportion blamealso to apportion blame. . Essentially has to come up with the Essentially has to come up with the verdict.verdict.

A possible verdict: All culpable, but USA A possible verdict: All culpable, but USA largely to blame.largely to blame.

USSR, USA and Cuba all had a part to play in the outbreak of USSR, USA and Cuba all had a part to play in the outbreak of the Cuban Missile Crisis, but it was USA who first over-reacted the Cuban Missile Crisis, but it was USA who first over-reacted to the threat posed by a leftist regime in Cuba, and had to the threat posed by a leftist regime in Cuba, and had created a self-fulfilling prophecy by taking unjustified created a self-fulfilling prophecy by taking unjustified pre-pre-emptive strikesemptive strikes such as Operation Zapata and Mongoose that such as Operation Zapata and Mongoose that scared Cuba into thinking that her national security was scared Cuba into thinking that her national security was threatened, and thus made her turn to USSR as a strong threatened, and thus made her turn to USSR as a strong backer in order to secure her own security. backer in order to secure her own security.

Thus USA was chiefly to blame as she tried to secure her Thus USA was chiefly to blame as she tried to secure her national interest at the expense of other nations, and thus led national interest at the expense of other nations, and thus led to the escalation of tensions as nations sought to secure their to the escalation of tensions as nations sought to secure their self interest by scaring the other into retreat. self interest by scaring the other into retreat.

Had USA not over-reacted, a peaceful compromise could have Had USA not over-reacted, a peaceful compromise could have been achieved earlier and the scare that was the Cuban Missile been achieved earlier and the scare that was the Cuban Missile Crisis could have been averted. Crisis could have been averted.

Moreover, USSR’s delving into the conflict was also partly in Moreover, USSR’s delving into the conflict was also partly in response to previous US stationing of Jupiter missiles in response to previous US stationing of Jupiter missiles in Turkey, which had essentially held USSR at gun-point, thus Turkey, which had essentially held USSR at gun-point, thus USSR’s decision to place missiles in Cuba was justified as it USSR’s decision to place missiles in Cuba was justified as it was trying to make USA understand the peril of being placed was trying to make USA understand the peril of being placed at gun-point.at gun-point.

Therefore, I disagree with the above statement, as USA, more Therefore, I disagree with the above statement, as USA, more than USSR was to blame for the outbreak of the Cuban Missile than USSR was to blame for the outbreak of the Cuban Missile Crisis.Crisis.

Consequences of the Cuban Missile CrisisConsequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis

1) Led to a thaw in USA-USSR relations, as 1) Led to a thaw in USA-USSR relations, as both parties were aware that their rivalry both parties were aware that their rivalry had almost led to an all-out nuclear war had almost led to an all-out nuclear war (mutually-assured destruction).(mutually-assured destruction).

E.g of thaw in relations:E.g of thaw in relations:-Establishment of direct hotline from Washington -Establishment of direct hotline from Washington

White House to Kremlin to facilitate high level White House to Kremlin to facilitate high level discussion between leaders of the 2 countries so discussion between leaders of the 2 countries so as to help defuse tensions. (20as to help defuse tensions. (20thth June 1963) June 1963)

-Signing of the nuclear test-ban treaty (June 1963)-Signing of the nuclear test-ban treaty (June 1963)Both countries agreed to cease atmospheric testing Both countries agreed to cease atmospheric testing

of nuclear weapons. But underground testing was of nuclear weapons. But underground testing was still permitted. still permitted.

Consequences of the Cuban Missile CrisisConsequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis

2) However, take note that although the Cuban 2) However, take note that although the Cuban Missile Crisis ended, US hostility towards Cuban Missile Crisis ended, US hostility towards Cuban regime continued, even though Kennedy briefly regime continued, even though Kennedy briefly explored the option of negotiating with Castro via explored the option of negotiating with Castro via unofficial channels.unofficial channels.

E.g. of continued hostility between US and Cuba:E.g. of continued hostility between US and Cuba:-Resumption of Operation Mongoose June 1963. -Resumption of Operation Mongoose June 1963.

Acts of economic sabotage organised by CIA. Acts of economic sabotage organised by CIA. -Plans to assassinate Castro (Operation Condor) -Plans to assassinate Castro (Operation Condor)

remained in place. remained in place.

** Therefore, this shows clearly that it was USSR’s Therefore, this shows clearly that it was USSR’s involvement that made the conflict between Cuba involvement that made the conflict between Cuba and USA escalate into the Cuban Missile Crisis in and USA escalate into the Cuban Missile Crisis in the first place, due to USSR’s provision of missiles the first place, due to USSR’s provision of missiles to Cuba. Without USSR’s involvement, it would to Cuba. Without USSR’s involvement, it would have remained a conflict between America and have remained a conflict between America and Cuba. Cuba.