Why did relations between the USA and USSR change in 1962-63? (12 marks)
Relations between the USA and USSR were tense during the cold war, and during 1962-63 began to change. The most important reason for the change in relationship between the USA and USSR was the Cuban Missile crisis, which cause increased tensions in relations, followed by the setup of the “hotline” and the policy of détente which represented the improving relations afterwards.
The most important reason for the change in relations between the USA and USSR was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis came as a result of the Cuban revolution, causing the USA to lose an ally which the USSR took advantage of by placing missiles on Cuba. As a result of the Cuban revolution both the USA and USSR had equal ability of being able to launch nuclear missiles at each other, and lead to heightened tension in the “Thirteen Days”, where B2 nuclear bombers with nuclear missiles were deployed by the USA and USSR missile bases deployed in Cuba, increasing the risk of war as the USSR issued a statement saying that it was willing to go to war with the USA, further increasing tensions in the relations between them.
