The Cuban missile crisis

Despite the thaw and the period of peaceful co-existence in the mid 1950's, relations between the superpowers began to deteriorate again at the beginning of the next decade. The lowest point was reached with the construction of the Berlin wall in 1961 and the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962.

Useful questions about this major event :

• What was the US attitude towards Cuba in 1962 ?

1. The USA had supported the Batista government overthrown by Castro in 1959

2. They were angry when Castro confiscated property belonging to US Companies.

3. They broke off diplomatic relations in 1961 after Castro made a trade deal with the USSR in 1960.

4. The USA gave weapons and training to Cuban exiles, hoping overthrow Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

The Cuban crisis countdown

14 October : U2 plane photographs nuclear missile sites on Cuba.

Low altitude view of missile preparation area. The pilot taking this shot flew at an altitude of about 250 feet, and at the speed of sound.Courtesy of CIA

22 October : President Kennedy announces a blockade of Cuba.

24 October : Us blockade begins

25 October : U2 shows missile bases still being constructed; soviet ships halted and turned back by the blockade.

26 October : JFK receives the first letter from Khrushchev.

27 october : Russians shot down a U2; JFK receives a second Khrushchev letter, but replies to the first letter; Robert Kennedy secretly promises USA will remove missiles in Turkey.

28 october: Khrushchev accepts Kennedy's deal.

Who "won" the cold war ?

1. Kennedy

- The USSR removed its missiles from Cuba

- His concession over removing US missiles in Turkey was kept secret.

- The USSR did not try to break the naval blockade.

- He was popular for acting tough and making Khrushchev back down.

2. Khruschev

- The USSR kept its communist ally close to the USA

- The USA promised publicly not to attack Cuba again and it ended the blockade.

- The USA agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey.

• What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis ?

- Kennedy and Khrushchev set up the "hot line" to improve communication and prevent misunderstandings.

- Fear of nuclear war led the USA, USSR and Britain to end the testing of nuclear weapons above ground ( By the way, France will continue... )

- Kennedy's reputation improved but Krushchev lost face with other soviet leaders.

- Castro became the unchallenged ruler of Cuba.

- The USA was determined to be equally tough against future spread of Communism, especially in the Americas.