the cuban missile crisis. the united states and latin america 1823 monroe doctrine monroe doctrine...
TRANSCRIPT
The Cuban Missile Crisis
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
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”
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
Cuban Missile Crisis
Propaganda gold dust – Cold War at its height & due to shared history/geography with US
Cuban Missile Crisis
April 1961 - Bay of Pigs Dec 1961 – Castro proclaims himself Marxist-
Leninist
Deployment
Summer 1962 missiles begin to be sent to Cuba
Politburo divided
Wanted to announce to world as fait accompli when at UN
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
ExComm Reasons
Bargaining chip for Jupiters in Turkey Diverting trap – real goal was Berlin Rebalance Cold War Close Nuclear imbalance – cost Cuban defence
Excomm Options
3 possible options:
(1) Attack Cuba
(2) Trade missiles for those in Turkey
(3) Quarantine
Much pressure on JFK from hawks after Bay of Pigs
11 voted for quarantine/6 for invasion
Soviet Aims
Idea came to Khrushchev while going for a walk in Bulgaria!
(1) Nuclear parity – been proven by 1961
(2) Weapons in Turkey – 10 mins to hit Soviet Union but 20 mins to hit US
(3) Virgin Land campaign – poor results
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
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
Solutions
What other options open to JFK & Khrushchev? – pressures from within own governments
Both fought in World War 2
Analysis
Nye – 3 ideas
1) Domestic level
2) International level – distribution of power
3) Military technology – relative standing in international system
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
Outcomes
Perceived as great humiliation for Soviet Union
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
Outcomes
US promise not to invade Cuba – Monroe Doctrine dead
1963 Jupiter missiles in Turkey
1964 cost Khrushchev his job – overseas adventures
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
Conclusions
Perceived as humiliation for Moscow – cost Khrushchev his job
Legacy for rest of Cold War
“Eyeball to eyeball, they blinked first.”