cuban missile crisis

Cuba was situated only 90 miles from Florida in southern USA. Americans owned most of the businesses, banks, sugar and tobacco plantations, as well as a large naval base. The USA maintained good relations with the pro-American dictator Batista. Batista was overthrown in 1959. 95% of Cuba’s trade was with the USA so the Cuban economy was heavily dependent on the USA. The new leader, Fidel Castro wished to reduce USA influence. He nationalised industries and banks and introduced land reforms. This damaged USA banking and business interests and led to deterioration in relations. Eisenhower refused to meet Castro when he visited the USA in 1959 and he refused loans and economic aid to Cuba. All trade with Cuba was banned when Castro turned to the USSR for support. In January 1961 the USA broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba. Castro then announced that Cuba was a communist country. This alarmed the government of the USA. It was not prepared to tolerate a communist country in its sphere of influence. In April 1961 USA President Kennedy approved a CIA plan to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. 1400 Cuban exiles were to carry out the invasion, equipped and advised by the USA. The Bay of Pigs invasion was a fiasco. Most of the rebels were captured or killed. This failure embarrassed President Kennedy and the USA and made Castro a national hero. However, the CIA continued to try to overthrow and assassinate Castro. In 1960 Castro and the USSR agreed to trade oil and sugar for machinery. In December 1961, Castro announced that he had become a Communist. After the US cut diplomatic relations with Cuba, Castro needed a new trade partner and turned to the USSR. Trade agreements were made with the USSR and with most countries in the Soviet bloc. By 1962 over 80% of Cuba’s trade was with the USSR. They exported sugar, fruit and tobacco in return for imports of oil and machinery. As relations became closer, Castro turned to the USSR for military protection