Why Wasn’t Unleashed the Third Why Wasn’t Unleashed the Third World War?World War?

19619622

OctoberOctober

The Whole World Was on the The Whole World Was on the

Verge of World War III…Verge of World War III…

Confrontation ofConfrontation of Two Political Two Political Systems After World War IISystems After World War II

Caribbean Crisis

Analysis of the role of the USA President Analysis of the role of the USA President John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister of the John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev in the solution of USSR Nikita Khrushchev in the solution of

that difficult problem.that difficult problem.

What do we mean when speaking about What do we mean when speaking about the Caribbean Crisis? the Caribbean Crisis?

The reasons that led to its emergence.The reasons that led to its emergence.

The Chronics of the Crisis.The Chronics of the Crisis.

13 days that separated the world from the 13 days that separated the world from the Nuclear War.Nuclear War.

The lessons of the crisis.The lessons of the crisis.

Pre-history of the Crisis.Pre-history of the Crisis.

January 1, 1959. The victory of the socialist January 1, 1959. The victory of the socialist revolution in Cuba and the beginning of revolution in Cuba and the beginning of attempts of the new government to get rid of attempts of the new government to get rid of the American influence in all forms of life. the American influence in all forms of life. Washington couldn’t stand the appearance of Washington couldn’t stand the appearance of the first socialist state near its borders. the first socialist state near its borders. 1961. The attempt of the counterrevolutionary 1961. The attempt of the counterrevolutionary forces to overthrow the peoples’ Government forces to overthrow the peoples’ Government and invade the country. The failure of the and invade the country. The failure of the attempt of the invasion at the Bay of Pigs.attempt of the invasion at the Bay of Pigs.The fear of the Cuban Government for the fate The fear of the Cuban Government for the fate of the revolution. Fidel Castro’s contacts with of the revolution. Fidel Castro’s contacts with the Soviet Government.the Soviet Government.

The Crucial Obstacle in The Crucial Obstacle in American – Soviet Union American – Soviet Union

relations.relations.

Cold War: Cuban Missile CrisisCold War: Cuban Missile Crisis

According to Nikita According to Nikita Khrushchev's memoirs, Khrushchev's memoirs, in May 1962 he in May 1962 he conceived the idea of conceived the idea of placing intermediate-placing intermediate-range nuclear missiles in range nuclear missiles in Cuba as a means of Cuba as a means of countering an emerging countering an emerging lead of the United States lead of the United States in developing and in developing and deploying strategic deploying strategic missiles. missiles. He wanted He wanted to to show the Americans that show the Americans that in case they attack Cuba in case they attack Cuba again they will have to again they will have to fight against the Soviet fight against the Soviet Union.Union.

He also presented the He also presented the scheme as a means of scheme as a means of protecting Cuba from protecting Cuba from another United States-another United States-sponsored invasion, such sponsored invasion, such as the failed attempt at the as the failed attempt at the Bay of Pigs in 1961.Bay of Pigs in 1961.

Once placed on the island Once placed on the island the missiles had to be the the missiles had to be the resistance factor in case resistance factor in case America started military America started military actions against the socialist actions against the socialist states. They could easily states. They could easily reach the territory of many reach the territory of many American cities.American cities.

The Placing of the Missiles on The Placing of the Missiles on the Territory of Cuba.the Territory of Cuba.

After obtaining After obtaining Fidel Castro's Fidel Castro's approval, the approval, the Soviet Union Soviet Union worked quickly worked quickly and secretly to and secretly to build missile build missile installations in installations in Cuba.Cuba.

The Stages of the CrisisThe Stages of the CrisisAmerican aircraft American aircraft intelligence discovered intelligence discovered the concentration of the concentration of Russian military units, Russian military units, technical equipment technical equipment and and installations ready for installations ready for launching cruise missiles.launching cruise missiles.

On October 16, President On October 16, President John Kennedy was John Kennedy was shown reconnaissance shown reconnaissance photographs of Soviet photographs of Soviet missile installations missile installations under construction in under construction in Cuba. Cuba.

The Stages of the CrisisThe Stages of the Crisis

After seven days of After seven days of guarded and intense guarded and intense debate in the United debate in the United States administration, States administration, during which Soviet during which Soviet diplomats denied that diplomats denied that installations for installations for offensive missiles offensive missiles were being built in were being built in Cuba, Cuba,

The White House ReactionThe White House Reaction

President Kennedy, in a President Kennedy, in a televised address on televised address on October 22, announced the October 22, announced the discovery of the discovery of the installations and installations and proclaimed that any proclaimed that any nuclear missile attack from nuclear missile attack from Cuba would be regarded Cuba would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet as an attack by the Soviet Union and would be Union and would be responded to accordingly. responded to accordingly.

The Soviet Missiles placed on Cuban territory.

The Reaction of the White HouseThe Reaction of the White House

It was very difficult for president John F. It was very difficult for president John F. Kennedy to come to the proper decision: Kennedy to come to the proper decision: either to pretend not to notice the either to pretend not to notice the preparations of the Russians or start preparations of the Russians or start immediately military actions, forcefully immediately military actions, forcefully making them dismantle the missile making them dismantle the missile installations, even at the risk of unleashing installations, even at the risk of unleashing the thermonuclear war.the thermonuclear war.A “non-stop” telephone communication line A “non-stop” telephone communication line was established between the Kremlin and the was established between the Kremlin and the White House. White House.

The Stages of the CrisisThe Stages of the Crisis

J.F. Kennedy also J.F. Kennedy also imposed a naval imposed a naval quarantine on quarantine on Cuba to prevent Cuba to prevent further Soviet further Soviet shipments of shipments of offensive military offensive military weapons from weapons from arriving there. arriving there.

Extreme Attempts to Solve the Extreme Attempts to Solve the CrisisCrisis

During the crisis, the two sides During the crisis, the two sides exchanged many letters and other exchanged many letters and other communications, both formal and communications, both formal and "back channel." Khrushchev sent "back channel." Khrushchev sent letters to Kennedy on October 23 and letters to Kennedy on October 23 and 24 indicating the deterrent nature of the 24 indicating the deterrent nature of the missiles in Cuba and the peaceful missiles in Cuba and the peaceful intentions of the Soviet Union. intentions of the Soviet Union.

The Demands of the USSRThe Demands of the USSR

On October 26, Khrushchev sent Kennedy a On October 26, Khrushchev sent Kennedy a long rambling letter seemingly proposing long rambling letter seemingly proposing that the missile installations would be that the missile installations would be dismantled and personnel removed in dismantled and personnel removed in exchange for United States assurances that exchange for United States assurances that it or its proxies would not invade Cuba. On it or its proxies would not invade Cuba. On October 27, another letter to Kennedy arrived October 27, another letter to Kennedy arrived from Khrushchev, suggesting that missile from Khrushchev, suggesting that missile installations in Cuba would be dismantled if installations in Cuba would be dismantled if the United States dismantled its missile the United States dismantled its missile installations in Turkey.installations in Turkey.

Taking a Difficult Decision 1Taking a Difficult Decision 1The American The American administration decided to administration decided to ignore this second letter ignore this second letter and to accept the offer and to accept the offer outlined in the letter of outlined in the letter of October 26. Khrushchev October 26. Khrushchev then announced on then announced on October 28 that he would October 28 that he would dismantle the dismantle the installations and return installations and return them to the Soviet Union, them to the Soviet Union, expressing his trust that expressing his trust that the United States would the United States would not invade Cuba. not invade Cuba.

Taking a Final Decision 2Taking a Final Decision 2

Further negotiations were held to Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States demand that including a United States demand that Soviet light bombers also be removed Soviet light bombers also be removed from Cuba, and the exact form and from Cuba, and the exact form and conditions of United States assurances conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba be specified. not to invade Cuba be specified.

The End of the CrisisThe End of the Crisis

Meeting of Two Political Leaders in Geneva.

Victory of Political WisdomVictory of Political Wisdom

Very Difficult Negotiations in Geneva

The Outcomes of the CrisisThe Outcomes of the Crisis

Both leaders confessed that the new Both leaders confessed that the new nuclear war would lead to annihilation of nuclear war would lead to annihilation of mankind.mankind.

The existence of two different political The existence of two different political systems was possible, but the systems was possible, but the competition in military sphere could competition in military sphere could bring them to dangerous outcomings.bring them to dangerous outcomings.

From the reminiscences of the Soviet Ambassador in America A. Dobrinin :“I shall always remember the fever of the October rocket crisis, when the peace was hanging on a thread, and when the leaders of the USA, the USSR and Cuba had to read the incoming papers on the spot and react upon them according to the situation. At the decisive moment of the crisis N. Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy turned out to be at the top, having shown courage, wisdom and political strain.

The crisis had a long lasting outcomings:

both leaders began to clarify that the use of thermonuclear weapons would bring the mankind to annihilation and not to the prosperity.

it became impossible to talk to another country from the position of force.

all the disputable problems should be solved by negotiations.

both leaders began to realize the danger of the repeating of such a crisis. More than that they felt the necessity of digression of the international tension after solution of such types of crises.

The Results of the CrisisThe Results of the Crisis

The politicians all The politicians all over the world said it over the world said it was the victory of was the victory of political wisdom over political wisdom over ambitions shown by ambitions shown by both leaders – N. both leaders – N. Khrushchev and Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy.John F. Kennedy.

What Lesson Both Leaders GotWhat Lesson Both Leaders Got

Both the USA and Russia tried to change the Both the USA and Russia tried to change the military balance into its favour. At the same time military balance into its favour. At the same time both sides understood that there couldn’t be a both sides understood that there couldn’t be a winner in a thermonuclear war.winner in a thermonuclear war.

The understanding of it made the super powers The understanding of it made the super powers obey the norms of behavior, which were formed obey the norms of behavior, which were formed chaotically and were rather contradictory. chaotically and were rather contradictory.

•First of all, the rules were supposed to consider the interests of both sides. They learned that by trying to gain any privilege by threatening the other side by using nuclear weapons, they shouldn’t declare their wish in ultimatum way which is not acceptable to the other side. Secondly, it is very dangerous if the other side is convinced that it can unexpectedly be subjected to a nuclear attack . It can lead to unpredictable actions. All the disputable questions should be negotiated, compromised, even questions of military security.

Thirdly, it is necessary to limit the range of territorial conflicts in which the super powers or their alliances are involved.They shouldn’t be permitted to reach the stage of using nuclear weapons, and the overgrowing of a regional military conflict into a global war.