The Cuban Missile Crisis

1. The Cuban Missile Crisis

2. The United States and Latin America • 1823 Monroe Doctrine • Monroe Doctrine – The US wishing to prevent any foreign power becoming involved in Latin America – after the collapse of the Spanish Empire

3. Soviet Global Policy Soviet foreign policy changes with the death of Stalin & the Soviet Union becomes interested in the Third World – backing national liberation movements Cuba perfect example - “We did not know what type of revolution had taken place”

4. Cuban Missile Crisis • January 1959 victory of the Cuba Revolution • As Cuban-US relations deteriorate Havana’s relationship with Moscow improves • Cuba perfect example of what Moscow hoped to achieve in the Third World

5. Cuban Missile Crisis • Propaganda gold dust – Cold War at its height & due to shared history/geography with US

6. Cuban Missile Crisis • April 1961 - Bay of Pigs • Dec 1961 – Castro proclaims himself Marxist-Leninist

7. Deployment • Summer 1962 missiles begin to be sent to Cuba • Politburo divided • Wanted to announce to world as fait accompli when at UN

8. 13 Days in October • 14th – photographs of missiles on Cuba • 22nd – Kennedy decides to blockade Cuba • 24th – Soviet ships turn back • 24th – message from Khrushchev saying must find peaceful solution • 25th – U2 spy plane shot down • 26th – 2nd message from Khrushchev • 28th – agreement reached

9. ExComm Reasons • Bargaining chip for Jupiters in Turkey • Diverting trap – real goal was Berlin • Rebalance Cold War • Close Nuclear imbalance – cost • Cuban defence

10. Excomm Options 3 possible options: • Attack Cuba • Trade missiles for those in Turkey • Quarantine Much pressure on JFK from hawks after Bay of Pigs 11 voted for quarantine/6 for invasion

11. Soviet Aims Idea came to Khrushchev while going for a walk in Bulgaria! • Nuclear parity – been proven by 1961 • Weapons in Turkey – 10 mins to hit Soviet Union but 20 mins to hit US • Virgin Land campaign – poor results

12. Soviet Aims (4) Reduce military spending – more “bang for your buck” on “rumble for your rouble” (5) Tension with China (6) Problems with the West – U2 & Vienna/Berlin

13. Soviet Aims (7) Believe JFK weak (8) Khrushchev’s character (9) Cuban defence - another Bay of Pigs but 40,000 Soviet troops already on Cuba

14. Solutions • What other options open to JFK & Khrushchev? – pressures from within own governments • Both fought in World War 2

15. Analysis Nye – 3 ideas • Domestic level • International level – distribution of power • Military technology – relative standing in international system

16. Analysis • Graham Allison – Essence of Decision. Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis • Model I – security and stability • Model II – Organisations within governments have own reasons • Model III – Individuals with own reasons but careful consideration of political situation in own country

17. Outcomes • Perceived as great humiliation for Soviet Union

18. Outcomes • “Eyeball to eyeball, they blinked first” – Dean Rusk, US Secretary of State • Hotline between Washington and Moscow created • 1963 - Limited test Ban Treaty • 1968 – Non Proliferation Treaty

19. Outcomes • US promise not to invade Cuba – Monroe Doctrine dead • 1963 Jupiter missiles in Turkey • 1964 cost Khrushchev his job – overseas adventures

20. Conclusions • Moscow takes decision to station nuclear weapons for a variety of different internal and foreign policy reasons – not just Cuban defence • “special” relationship between Washington & Havana increases tension • Nye - analysis • Allison – Essence of Decision

21. Conclusions • Perceived as humiliation for Moscow – cost Khrushchev his job • Legacy for rest of Cold War • “Eyeball to eyeball, they blinked first.”