Castrol moved closer to the USSR as a result. In May 1962 the USSR agreed to supply Castro with weapons to protect Cuba broke from future U.S. invasion. Thousands of guns, patrol boats, tanks and jet fighters made the Cuban army the best equipped in Latin America. 42,000 Russian soldiers were also sent to Cuba.
By 1962 the USSR was increasingly concerned about the ‘missile gap’ that resulted from the USA’s superiority in long-range nuclear missiles. Khrushchev, the Russian leader, was also concerned about American/NATO missiles in Turkey close to the USSR. Russian influence in Cuba offered Khrushchev an opportunity to balance this threat. The USSR sent technicians to secretly build silos, missile erectors and installed 43 short and medium range nuclear weapons by September 1962. The USA was unaware of these developments. Now most of the USA and was within target range of USSR missiles.
On 14th of October an American spy plane took photographs which confirmed that Russian missiles were well advanced and that most of the USA and was within target range. President Kennedy then set up EX-COMM, a small group of military and political advisers that would deal with the crisis. A key member of EX-COMM was Robert Kennedy, the president’s brother. 18 Russian ships, many carrying parts for nuclear weapons were sailing towards Cuba. Kennedy decided to set up a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent the Russian ships landing. They wanted to avoid direct confrontation.
On the 23rd October Russia condemned the U.S. actions as piracy and argued it was only helping Cuba to improve its defences. On 24th October the U.S. naval blockade began and plans for an American invasion of Cuba were drawn up. U.S. air force planes began to fly over Cuba and evidence from U2 spy planes suggested that the missile sites were nearing completion. Whenever Russia tried to send ships into Cuba they were stopped and turned away.
On 26 October Kennedy received a telegram from Khrushchev. He stated that the USSR would remove the missiles if the U.S. removed the block and didn’t invade Cuba. Before he could reply a second telegram arrived the next day with an additional demand: that the U.S. remove their missiles from Turkey. Kennedy decided to ignore the second telegram and reply to the first. He agreed to the terms as long as Khrushchev removed the missiles. He added that if he did not receive a reply by 29th October Cuba would be invaded.
On 28 October Khrushchev agreed to Kennedy’s offer and the removal of missiles began. The world was saved from nuclear war.
As an effect of the missile crisis Kennedy’s reputation was enhanced as he had shown firmness in standing up to Khrushchev. The Russian ships returned home and the Russian missiles in Cuba were removed. Although it was at U.S. victory Kennedy played down any show of triumph and praised Khrushchev’s willingness to compromise. Khrushchev was criticised in the USSR for losing face in this game of brinkmanship. As a result he was removed from office in 1964. Khrushchev however viewed his actions during the Cuban missile crisis as a success because the U.S. had removed their missiles from Turkey and the rest of Europe in April 1963.
The USA agreed that Castro would remain the communist leader of Cuba and the security of Cuba was recognised. The USA and the USSR realised how close they had come to nuclear war and the Cuban missile crisis helped promote peaceful coexistence. A direct phone link or ‘hotline’ between the two leaders of the USA and USSR was set up in 1968. The Cuban missile crisis showed the need for nuclear arms control and led to the first attempt to end the nuclear arms race. As part of this agreement in 1963 the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty stopped atmospheric and underground testing of nuclear weapons. Also in 1969 the USA and the USSR signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons which paved the way for a period of détente between the superpowers in the 1970s.
However within two years both leaders were gone: Khrushchev overthrown and Kennedy assassinated.
