Cuban Missile Crisis - Assignment Example

Cuban Missile Crisis al Affiliation) The Cuban missile crisis was a fortnight long confrontation between the Soviet Unionand the United States over the deployment of missiles in Cuba. The crisis featured greatly in international news bulletin. It took place in 1962 when the incumbent soviet leader agreed to the Cuban request of placing nuclear missiles in its territories. The US raised concerns about the ongoing placement of offensive weapons close to its boundaries. After intense negotiation between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the US, the USSR resolved to dismantle the weapons and shipped them back (Kennedy, 2013).

Additionally, the U.S. resolved to destroy all its weaponry positioned in Italy and Turkey. It vowed never to attack Cuba unless directly provoked. The paper strives categorically to afford a detailed analysis of the Cuban missile crisis. It will focus on the actions that triggered the crisis during the 1960s. Additionally, it will examine both its short term and long-term implication.Causes of the Crisis A number of factors are directly linked to the emergence of the Cuban missile crisis.

Since time immemorial, the US has been against the close association between the European communist nations and South American nations (Kennedy, 2011). The US felt threatened by an alliance between the Latin and the Soviet Union. After the adoption of communism by Cuba, the US tried to overthrow the Cuban government. However, it failed and the operation adopted the name failed Bay of Pigs invasion. After the botched operation, the Soviet Union resolved to strengthen its position by offering to place nuclear missile in Cuba.

Fidel Castro, the then Cuban leader gladly agreed hoping that it would deter further attacks from the U.S. When the plot was known to the US, the Cuban Missile crisis ensued. Effects of the Crisis The aftermath of the crisis helped shape the relation between the Soviet Union and the US. Khrushchev credibility bared the blunt of international criticism after agreeing to dismantle the missiles and because the US nuclear deployment in turkey and Italy was not known publicly. The political downfall of the soviet leader is directly linked to the conclusion of the crisis.

However, the resolution was applauded in the U.S. with historian citing it as a great achievement by John Kennedy’s government (Khan, 2012). Additionally, they argued that the US success in the crisis had prompted its involvement in other military operation across the globe. The crisis also led to the creation of a Moscow-Washington hot line that linked the Kremlin and the White house. The cold war came close to escalating to a nuclear war. As a result, for humanity interest the two countries resolved that the direct connection was vital.

Conclusion The crisis was a result of the recklessness and stubbornness of both Khrushchev and Castro. They failed to realize the imminent danger of placing nuclear weapons close to the borders of an anti-communist nation. It is imperative to note that the world is fortunate that the crisis occurred when it did. Both leaders had time to reconsider and weigh their options. If the crisis took place at a later period, when the advancement in technology had shortened the launch time of the nuclear missiles, the outcome could have been disastrous.

After the crisis, both countries became cautious in order to avoid such situations. ReferenceKennedy, R. F. (2011). Thirteen days: A memoir of the Cuban missile crisis. WW Norton & Company.Khan, S. (2012). Cuban Missile Crisis.