SBCS- CMC Flashcards
History of political influence in Cuba
US President James Monroe declared the US policy of resisting foreign ‘colonisation’ of Latin American countries. Known as the Monroe Doctrine. In essence, declaring Latin America, including Cuba, to be within its sphere of influence.
History of economic influence in Cuba
By the time of Batista’s 1959 ouster, American tourism in Cuba was an important source of income for Cuba, while the one-crop sugar economy supplied 2.5 to 3 million metric tonnes of sugar to the USA at subsidised prices. US companies and interests had control over national resources like steel and land ( owned 25% of Cuba’s best land), while at the same time the country’s entire financial system, utilities were monopolised by US companies. Additionally, 90% of the country’s raw sugar and tobacco exports were to the US.
Overthrow of US-aligned Batista by Castro
1956- Cuban rebels begin campaign to remove US-supported dictator batista
1959- Batista resigns, Castro takes over
Actions by Castro to reduce dependence on the US
- Castro passes an agrarian reform law, confiscating some American-owned property and land
- Castro signs an agreement with Soviet First Deputy Premier Mikoyan to receive $100 million in credits and to sell 5 million tons of Cuban sugar. In return, Cuba would receive Soviet oil.
- When American refineries in Cuba refuse to refine Soviet oil, Castro nationalises American refineries.
- When Eisenhower reduces American purchases of Cuban sugar by 95% and begins to explore ways to oust Castro from power, Soviet Union offers to buy the sugar that America no longer wishes to buy.
- Cuba seizes $1 billion worth of US assets and Castro announces his solidarity with the Soviet bloc
Actions by the US to overthrow Castro
- Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961 was an invasion by 1,400+ Cuban exiles trained by the CIA, easily defeated by Castro’s army.
- Operation Mongoose, authorised in Nov 1961, sought to destabilise the Castro government by sabotaging petroleum installations, sinking Cuban ships, and agitating anti-Castro elements.
- The USA also secured the expulsion of Cuba from the Organisation of American States, while conducting a military exercise near Puerto Rico aimed at overthrowing an unnamed dictator.
Why did USSR have the desire to protect Cuba?
: There was genuine good reason for Cuba to fear American invasion by 1962. The US had employed subversive economic tactics and outright sabotage in an attempt to unseat Castro and his government.
The Soviet Union therefore had reason to support and defend a government that had pledged allegiance to Moscow and the cause of Marxist-Leninism.
Why did USSR want to close missile gap?
Throughout the 1950s, it seemed that the Soviet Union had appeared to be catching up- and quite possibly surpassing- the USA in terms of the quality and quantity of its nuclear capabilities. However, when US intelligence finally uncovered and announced the fact that Krushchev had been bluffing all along, Krushchev needed to rapidly and economically (i.e. cheaply) address this gap. Some Soviet leaders saw the deployment of missiles in Cuba as a means of changing the strategic balance. Deploying MRBMs and IRBMs in Cuba, would triple Soviet offensive capabilities against the US while emphasising the US strong-arm tactics of placing missiles in Turkey.
Krushchev’s desire to strengthen position and hence score a foreign policy success
Krushchev desperately needed to score a diplomatic coup against the US, after the Berlin Crisis from 1958 to 1962. Since 1955 West Germany had undergone remilitarisation as a member of NATO, and the contrast between East Berlin’s stagnant economy and West berlin’s booming economy was particularly annoying for Krushchev. The Berlin Crisis where over 1,000 East German refugees arrived into West Berlin everyday culminated in the Berlin Wall as a ‘solution’. While it solved the refugee problem, it became a symbol of repression in the Soviet sphere to the world. Krushchev had failed to dislodge the West from Berlin and had come under fierce criticism from China to yielding to the capitalist powers. Hence, Krushchev needed a foreign policy success. What began in Berlin in 1958 ended in Cuba in 1962.
Significance of Kennedy’s desire to protect domestic legitimacy
: Following America and Kennedy’s embarrassment in the Bay Of Pigs invasion, Kennedy needed to score a foreign policy/ CW success for his country and his re-election. Kennedy’s Democratic Party was facing a tough fight in the mid-term Congressional elections that were weeks away. The Democrats’ slim victory in Congress may have been lost if the Democratic President, Kennedy, was seen as having let the country down. Moreover, beforehand, Senator Kenneth Keating, a Republican, had been making statements accusing Kennedy’s government of wilful negligence regarding the situation in Cuba. This domestic political situation compelled Kennedy to take a firm stance against the USSR.
Significance of US perception of changing balance of power
Because of intelligence reports that there was a great increase of shipments to Cuba, as well as domestic pressure forces, the Kennedy administration nonetheless began sending warning signals, as well as shore up their war-making capabilities. When it was found out that a series of offensive missile sites were being prepared on Cuba and offensive weapons of mass destruction were being shipped into Cuba, US saw it as a threat to the peace and security of Americans. As a result, they imposed a ‘quarantine’/blockade around Cuba which prevented Soviet ships from navigating into Cuban waters.
Kennedy’s and Khrushchev’s willingness to negotiate
: Krushchev had sent his first letter to Kennedy on 26 October and second letter on 27 October. Later in the day on 27 October, the ExComm decided after reading Krushchev’s Second Latter that they would ignore the demands of the Second letter, and agree only to Krushchev’s proposal in the First Letter. Robert Kennedy then met with Soviet ambassador Dobrinin privately to express USA’s agreement to pledge non-invasion of Cuba in return for Soviet assurances of missile removal from Cuba. Robert Kennedy also agreed that America’s Jupiter missiles in Turkey would be removed, although not publicised. Soviet Union accepted.
Significance of risk of accidental escalation
The CMC had exposed both leaders to the potential of an accidental nuclear war, which was something that they came perilously close on 27 October, even as they were in the midst of negotiations. A U-2 Spy plane that was observing Cuba was shot down. Hence, to prevent a nuclear war, when news came of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between Dobrinin and Kennedy, Krushchev seized the opportunity to sue for peace.
Why did superpowers win because of increased global competition through proies?
Won because not directly or extensively involved, suffered minimal material and human losses, save more resources.
Removal of direct security threats and respect for areas of influence- US won on the surface and immediately after, although they would also remove their missiles in Turkey and Iran. Why win?
Win because managed to get USSR to publicly back down and agree to remove its missiles from Cuba. This represented not only a security victory (Which the USA didn’t need in the first place- USSR missiles did not need to be placed near US to be able to reach US) but also a political one in the realm of international relations during the cold war. The democratic USA had defeated communist USSR bad bear once again!
