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Cuba had been the colony of Spain since the 15th century. When Spain tried to capture it, the USA came forward as its savior. This led to the Spanish -American war (1895-1898). In 1898, the ball was in America's coat and there was American influence in Cuba. So, Newton's 3rd law came into enforcement and anti-American movements emerged in Cuba. In the parallel world, Cuba needed American troops from time to time and their financial aid to Cuba also showed an increment. Different Cuban companies such as sugar, utensils, iron, copper, manganese and paper were owned by Americans.⅗th of the Cuban railways were under Americans and many Americans owned lands in Cuba as well. The whole electricity and telephone system of Cuba went under Americans hold. And the USA was the main market for Cuba's exports, especially sugar.
But from 1945, the gap between the poor and the rich increased in Cuba giving birth to unemployment and poverty. Since 1933, no effective political system has been developed in it.
In this political instability, a politician raised in Cuba named Fulgencio Bastiata in 1933 and his party was trying hard to come into power. In 1952, he was able to consolidate power in Cuba, which was an authoritarian and centralized regime. He used brutish and cohesive means and that gave rise to a Social Revolution in Cuba.
As a counter, Fidel Castro could be observed who was a young leader belonging to a middle-class family. At that time, he was neither a communist nor a capitalist, rather he was a nationalist. He demanded to get rid of the Bastiata government and for a people-friendly democratic government. He and his fellow members were sent to jail for the charge of rebellion. In jail, he planned a guerrilla warfare campaign against Bastiata and in the mid 50s he and other rebels started to capture some essential parts of North and South Cuba.
The world observed that Castro became communist because he was getting real support in the shape of land reforms and distribution of lands from the USSR.On 1st Jan 1959, Bastiata fled from Cuba and eventually Castro headed towards it to form a liberal government in Cuba.
Gradually, Cuba’s relation with USA deteriorated. The first step that Castro took was to nationalize the USA's company under the Cuban government. Eisenhower stated that if Castro will not review his policy than American will stop the export of sugar to Cuba. The Soviet Union jumped in 1960 ; when the US stopped supply of sugar then the USSR promised to buy sugar from Cuba. So, Castro moved towards the USSR and their relations became friendly while with the USA they became worse. In Jan 1961, the US ended its diplomatic relations with Cuba. While the USSR provided economic aid to Cuba. It was an alarming situation because Cuba was strategically super close to the US and the domino effect with regard to the spread of communism was prevalent. that was very dangerous for the US.
Covert Actions (An activity/ activities of the US government to influence political, economic or military conditions abroad where role of US will not be acknowledged publicly) conducted by CIA , Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, protest, use of violation. Bastiata wanted to create a strong opposition against Castro on same lines. (Landing operation of South Western coast of Cuba). It was a planned action by Bastiata to create strong opposition. It was CIA financed and there were trained groups of people from Cuba to push and end the regime of Fidel Castro (the whole idea was secret). On 17th April 1961, around 1200 people (who were exiled) armed with American weapons , aided by CIA, landed in American craft on Bay of Pigs in Cuba. The plan at once failed, the landing force countered unexpected attack by the Castro army and even air was also used. Around 100 of the exiles were killed and 1100 were captured. It further created problems between the US and Cuba moved towards the USSR (friendly and close ties).
Development of the crisis (14 days).
American U2 spy plane whose pilot was Major Richard Heyer. He captured some pictures over Cuba on 14th Oct 1962, in which a Soviets medium range ballistic missile SS-4, they were being assembled for installation. Moreover, it was that some of the Soviet ships were heading towards Cuba and they had military weapons with them. It was real concern for Americans, president Kennedy informed about the picture and the whole situation on 16 Oct 1962 (Mon), the real crisis started between US and USSR. On 15th Oct 1962, before presenting to president they again checked to confirm and this time there were several SS-4 medium range ballistic missiles being ready for installation. On the same day, president Kennedy convenes with his Excomm ( a group of advisors, National Security Council). The next day, 17th Oct 1962, the US needed to identify where the missiles are being installed (SS4) and through intelligence, they found out that they are being installed in such position that US major would be striking as well. They formed a ring of ships to counter the attack by USSR. (The President didn’t inform the public about anything about US aircraft and troops). 22nd Aug 1962, Kennedy addressed the public and he told about the plane and provided all the information to the public and on the same day US military alert was set “alert no 3” to measure level. 5 levels (defence readiness condition) , air force can mobilize, defence (defcon), threat (regarding security). Castro also mobilized all the armed forces, because he knew that the US would respond as it was Cuba who provided such authority to install to the USSR. The US put pressure on the USSR via the global community. On 23rd Oct 1962, an organization of American state (OAS) states supported the US decision and they were shown pictures. American diplomacy was putting pressure on Cuba and USSR by the help of geographically close states to America and Cuba. USSR have all mechanism built for launching missiles. On the same day, Kennedy and Macnorms discussed that if there will be any military confrontation, then what would be the plan of action regarding it. On 24th Oct 1962 the world observed the climax of the crisis. USSR ships reached the blocked line , intensity and pressure was increasing on both ends, because if the ships reached there then that would lead to war, USSR received radio messages from Moscow to hold their position and not cross the blocked line : on 25th Oct 1962 Thursday , by the US ambassador at UN( Stevenson ). Both the ships were in front of each other, at one side there was USA and on the other, it was USSR. Stevenson confronted the USSR that if the Soviet started anything that would lead to nuclear war and would not affect the USSR only but the whole globe would be affected. It is a matter of international security, peace and harmony. Alert level 2 was given on 25th Oct 1962, it was a high level threat that could lead to nuclear war around the globe. American forces and the USA used all their options from the global community to do anything other than war. On 26th Oct 1962, Excomm received a letter from Khrushchev (USSR), stating that “USSR would remove their missile if president Kennedy will publically address and say that they would not invade Cuba”. On the same day, there was a secret meeting between the representatives of the US and USSR. Kennedy’s brother (businessman) committed on Kennedy’s behalf saying that not publically, but we will not invade Cuba. The USSR sent another message, saying that the US will put out their missiles from Turkey against the USSR which were on the same lines as the USSR planned against the USA in Cuba. 27th Oct 1962, one of the U2 spy planes entered the USSR by accident and was shot down by Russians and another was shot down by Cuba, then a second letter was received from Khrushchev. The condition given to the US was that in addition to a public address , a commitment should be made that they would not invade Cuba And they should remove their missile from Turkey. Excomm sent a letter to remove their missile from Cuba and then they will remove it from Turkey( secret meeting).