stock here: The Crisis was NOT just butt headed Russians trying to be difficult…..but now this makes the Cuban Crisis even more analogous to the Ukraine Debacle.
Russians stationed their missiles in Cuba, Khrushchev didn’t just come up with a great plan to start a nuclear missiles crisis in Cuba. He was looking for a opportunity to get even with the US for placing nukes in Turkey. So when Fidel Castro asked Khrushchev for help that’s when Khrushchev saw opportunity to get even with the US, and have the Nukes removed from Turkey.
Khrushchev was successful in that regard.
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
The comment about the Cuban Missile Crisis on QH is essentially accurate. Here’s a breakdown of the relevant facts with further verification and expansion:
Background: U.S. Missiles in Turkey
In 1961, the United States deployed Jupiter nuclear missiles in Turkey, just 150 miles from the Soviet Union. This deployment was a key factor that angered Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who saw it as a direct threat to Soviet security. The U.S. had stationed these missiles as part of NATO’s defense strategy, but their proximity to Soviet borders made the situation tense. The Jupiter missiles in Turkey were capable of striking major Soviet cities with little warning.
Soviet Response: Missiles in Cuba
In response, Khrushchev sought to balance the strategic playing field by placing Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. This move was partly an attempt to protect the newly established communist regime of Fidel Castro, who had asked Khrushchev for military assistance. However, the placement of the missiles in Cuba also provided the Soviets with a way to retaliate against the U.S. presence in Turkey and equalize the threat level.
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
The discovery of the Soviet missiles in Cuba led to a 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, which is now known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his administration considered the missiles a grave threat and demanded their removal, leading to a potential nuclear confrontation between the two superpowers.
Secret Deal: Removal of U.S. Missiles from Turkey
Khrushchev did not initiate the Cuban Missile Crisis just to provoke the U.S.; he was indeed seeking to counter the U.S. missile threat in Turkey. The crisis ended when both sides reached a secret agreement. In exchange for the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba, Kennedy privately agreed to remove U.S. Jupiter missiles from Turkey. However, this part of the deal was not made public at the time to avoid appearing weak to NATO allies or the American public.
Conclusion: Khrushchev’s Strategic Move
Khrushchev was indeed successful in his goal to have the U.S. missiles removed from Turkey, but it came at a cost. The Soviet Union had to withdraw its missiles from Cuba, and the event was widely seen as a strategic defeat for the Soviets, despite the secret success in Turkey. The crisis, however, resulted in improved communication between the superpowers, such as the establishment of the Moscow-Washington hotline, to prevent future escalations.
The documentary may not have mentioned the missile deployment in Turkey, but it was a crucial part of the narrative leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis, as Khrushchev was acting to counter the American threat in his region.
This expanded view captures the full context of Khrushchev’s actions, aligning with the QH comment’s core points.