The Climax of the Cold War, Part II The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962

The Cuban Missile Crisis American and Soviet strategic approach to waging the Cold War. A role of nuclear weapons in the Cold War. Overlap between the Cold War and national- liberation movements. Role of smaller states and alliances in waging the Cold War.

Kennedy’s Containment: Flexible Response Maintenance of the existing balance of power: - public posturing and private proposals to the Soviets to work jointly on neutralizing regional crises. Perceptions of a changing balance of power is the main danger: - fear on undermining confidence in American resolve. Multiple options to respond to crises and flexible management: -expansion of strategic and tactical nuclear arsenal -build-up of conventional forces -use of special forces and covert operations -encouragement of modernization and diplomatic engagement with the Third World countries.

Vienna Summit, 1961

Soviet Approach to the Cold War Practice of nuclear brinksmanship to conceal Soviet strategic disadvantage: - US 1800 bombers + 42 ICBMs + 32 SLBMs vs. USSR 4 ICBM bombers - Khrushchev’s search for a quick fix. Encouragement of national-liberation movements in the Third World as a way to tilt the course of history toward socialism: - rejection of Kennedy’s offer to jointly manage regional conflicts. Fighting to maintain the leadership position of the socialist camp: - Sino-Soviet split became public in 1961; Khrushchev needs to take offensive action after the Berlin Crisis to demonstrate his resolve.

Khrushchev at the UN, 1960

Cuba between the two superpowers Revolution against Batista (January 1959): - Fidel Castro was not a communist, but Che Guevara and Raul Castro were. American economic blockade and CIA covert operations drove Cuba to the socialist camp in 1960: - Moscow’s initial reluctance to challenge US in Western hemisphere; eventual extension of economic aid.

Khrushchev and Fidel Castro in New York, 1960

Soviet decision to place strategic rocket forces in Cuba Concern over Cuban security: - Bay of Pigs in April of 1961 and Soviet fears of another invasion. Soviet leadership of the national liberation movements in the Third World Decisiveness to deflect Chinese criticism of Soviet irresolution Quick fix to the balance of power; position to negotiate with the US on regional issues from a position of strength: – Soviet medium-range missiles in Cuba would triple Soviet striking power

Unfolding of the Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet decision to send strategic armaments to Cuba in May of Secret Soviet-Cuban defense treaty in July of 1962: - the Cubans did not think they needed missiles for protection, but accepted them for the benefit of the whole socialist camp. Operation “Anadyr” over the summer-fall of 1962: – Transfer of over 42 thousand Soviet troops, 40 nuclear missiles, strategic bombers, tactical nuclear weapons, anti- aircraft batteries, and naval squadrons with nuclear-tipped torpedoes.

American response to Soviet armaments in Cuba. Kennedy’s determination to overthrow Fidel Castro: - domestic politics. - resolution not to allow for development of a perception of the shifting balance of power. -“Operation Mongoose” Discovery of Soviet missiles on October 15. Multiple options and crisis management: American invasion, aerial strike, blockade, negotiations: - establishment of the “quarantine” as a measure short of war. - public demands for the Soviet Union to remove “offensive weapons.”

Resolution of Cuban Missile Crisis Internal pressure on Kennedy to launch a strike on Cuba: - back channel negotiations with the Soviet Union. - Khrushchev bargains over American missiles in Europe. Soviet-American compromise at the end of October: - removal of “offensive” Soviet weapons from Cuban (retention of some conventional forces and armaments) in exchange for American pledge not to invade Cuba - removal of American missiles from Turkey. Public relations coup for the United States: - non-invasion pledge informal; agreement to remove missiles from Turkey secret. - appearance of the Soviet Union backing down in face of overwhelming power and due to its own irresolution.

From Crisis to Detente Khrushchev’s abandonment of attempts to change the balance of power through brinksmanship and turn to détente. Limitations of flexible response: refusal to consider limited nuclear war or conventional conflict with the Soviet Union. Realization of nuclear stalemate. Conclusion of Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, August of 1963.