The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union, centered on the Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba. It is widely considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into full-scale nuclear war.
Background and Causes
- The US had nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey, close to the Soviet Union, and had attempted to overthrow Cuba's communist government, causing Soviet concerns.
- In response, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed with Cuban leader Fidel Castro to place nuclear missiles on Cuba to deter any US invasion.
- The USSR secretly built missile sites in Cuba, discovered by an American U-2 spy plane in October 1962, which prompted fears in the US of an imminent threat as Cuba is just 90 miles from Florida.
US Response
- President John F. Kennedy considered various options, including air strikes, invasion, or doing nothing.
- He chose to impose a naval "quarantine" (blockade) around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of military supplies and demanded removal of the existing missiles.
- Kennedy publicly revealed the crisis in a televised speech on October 22, 1962.
Resolution
- Soviet ships initially headed for Cuba altered course to avoid confrontation.
- Khrushchev sent letters to Kennedy proposing removal of missiles from Cuba in exchange for a US promise not to invade Cuba.
- A secret agreement was made for the US to also remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey quietly.
- By late October, the Soviets withdrew their missiles, ending the crisis.
Significance
- The crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war and highlighted the dangers of Cold War brinkmanship.
- It led to improved communication between the US and the Soviet Union, including the establishment of the "hotline" between Washington and Moscow.
This event remains a critical moment in Cold War history, exemplifying the risks of nuclear escalation and the importance of diplomatic resolutions.
