The history of the Cuban Missile Crisis - Matthew A. Jordan

Summary

The Cold War, a 45-year period following World War II, was marked by the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation, a reality that came to a head during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuba sought Soviet support, leading to the secret deployment of nuclear missiles on the island. The discovery of these missiles by the US led to a tense 13-day standoff, nearly resulting in nuclear war. Key decisions by leaders, notably John F. Kennedy's naval quarantine and Vasili Arkhipov's refusal to launch a nuclear torpedo, along with critical diplomatic negotiations, eventually resolved the crisis, highlighting the fragility of human politics in the nuclear age.

Takeaways

• 💣 The Cold War was a period of high tension between the US and the USSR, marked by the threat of nuclear annihilation.
• 🛡️ The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world came to nuclear war, a 13-day standoff between the US, the USSR, and Cuba.
• 🇺🇸🇷🇺 The crisis began after the US discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, intended to deter a US invasion and counterbalance US missiles in Turkey and Italy.
• 🔫 President Kennedy opted for a naval blockade (termed a 'quarantine') of Cuba instead of direct military action, a move the Soviets considered an act of war.
• 🛩 A key moment was when a US spy plane was shot down over Cuba and a Soviet submarine nearly launched a nuclear torpedo in response to US naval pressure.
• 🏳️ Vasili Arkhipov, the submarine's second in command, refused to authorize the launch, preventing potential nuclear disaster.
• 🔥 The US military escalated to DEFCON 2, indicating the US was one step away from nuclear war.
• 📖 Secret negotiations between US Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin led to a deal: the US would remove missiles from Turkey and promise not to invade Cuba, in exchange for the USSR withdrawing missiles from Cuba.
• 📬 Khrushchev announced the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba, effectively ending the crisis.
• 🤦‍♂️ The crisis highlighted the fragility of international politics and the terrifying power of nuclear weapons, demonstrating that a single decision can significantly alter history.

Q & A

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and when did it occur?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba. It occurred in October 1962 and is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.

What event led Cuba to seek assistance from the U.S.S.R.?

The Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, a failed attempt by the U.S. to overthrow Cuba's new communist government, led Cuba to seek military assistance from the U.S.S.R.

Why did the Soviet Union deploy missiles to Cuba?

The Soviet Union deployed missiles to Cuba to protect the island from any future invasion attempts and to counteract the threat from U.S. missiles stationed in Italy and Turkey.

What was President John F. Kennedy's initial response to the discovery of missiles in Cuba?

Upon discovering the missiles, President John F. Kennedy chose a careful approach by announcing that the U.S. Navy would intercept all shipments to Cuba, effectively enacting a naval blockade, which he referred to as a 'quarantine' to avoid war connotations.

How did Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev react to the U.S. blockade of Cuba?

Nikita Khrushchev wrote an outraged letter to Kennedy, stating that the blockade was an act of aggression and warned that it pushed mankind toward the abyss of world nuclear missile war.

What event almost led to the launch of a nuclear torpedo by a Soviet submarine?

A Soviet submarine, hit by a small-depth charge from a U.S. Navy vessel as a signal to surface, prepared to launch a nuclear torpedo under the mistaken belief that war had begun. The launch was averted by Vasili Arkhipov, the second in command, who refused to authorize it.

What significance does Vasili Arkhipov hold in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Vasili Arkhipov played a critical role in the Cuban Missile Crisis by vetoing the decision to launch a nuclear torpedo from a Soviet submarine, a choice that potentially saved the world from a nuclear war.

What was DEFCON 2, and when was it declared during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

DEFCON 2 is the defense readiness condition level one step away from nuclear war. It was declared for the first time in history by the U.S. Military during the Cuban Missile Crisis, signaling the high readiness of U.S. forces.

What was the outcome of the secret negotiation between Robert Kennedy and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin?

The secret negotiation led to a proposal where the U.S. would remove their missiles from Turkey and Italy and promise not to invade Cuba in exchange for the Soviet withdrawal of missiles from Cuba under U.N. inspection.

What lesson was learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The Cuban Missile Crisis revealed the fragility of human politics compared to the devastating power of nuclear weapons, demonstrating how slight miscommunications or decisions could potentially lead to catastrophic outcomes.