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Monroe Doctrine
isolationist policy -
Cuban (in)dependence
Platt Amendment- cuba cannot allow foreign powers from using land w/o military purposes -
U2 spy plane discovered missile sites in Cuba
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National Photographic Intelligence Centre reviewed photos
identified objects similar to MRBM components in USSR -
EXCOM meeting with Kennedy
discussed possible diplomatic and military causes of action:
1. air strikes on missile sites
2. actual invasion of Cuba
3. naval quarantine
4. diplomatic pressure -
U2 flight showed immediate range (IBRMs), SS-5 nuclear missiles on Cuban soil
Hawks (Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force) argued for an air strike -
Gromyko and Kennedy meeting
Gromyko assured K that Soviet aid to Cuba was purely for Cuba's defensive capabilities -
Kennedy ordered institution of a defensive quarantine ASAP
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General Maxwell Taylor: air strike could not guarantee destruction of all Soviet missiles in Cuba
Kennedy decides on naval quarantine for time being, U2 flight revealed bombers and MiGs were being rapidly assembled, cruise missile sites built on north Cuba -
Kennedy announced naval quarantine, DEFCON 3
tried to use diplomatic pressure! announced presence of the missile sites in Cuba to US public, attracted attention of international community. also warned of retaliatory measures. US military worldwide went on DEFCON 3 alert, Marines reinforced US base at Guatanamo Bay -
Warsaw Pact on standby, Robert x Dobrynin
in response to DEFCON 3, Khrushchev alerted Warsaw Pact forces to standby. Organisation of American States (OAS) unanimously approved of quarantine against Cuba. Quarantine line: 800 miles off Cuba. Robert Kennedy met Anatoly Dobrynin. Khrushchev commented that there was a "serious threat to peace and security of peoples." Kennedy gave Khrsuhchev more time and pulled quarantine line back by 500 miles. -
DEFCON 2
Soviet ships en route to Cuba either reversed/ slowed down -
Khrushchev's 1st letter
willing to remove Cuba missiles -
Khrushchev's 2nd letter
remove Turkey missiles in exchange for Cuban missiles -
U2 spy plane incident
U2 plane shot down -
Radio Moscow interview
Khrsuhchev accepted Kennedy's proposals