To What Extent Was the Soviet Union Responsible for the Cuban Missile Crisis?

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to never invade Cuba. Kennedy on his side agreed to the offer despite his harsh attitude and in addition promised to withdraw US nuclear arms situated in Turkey. Certainly once the enormity of the situation became clear to both men, they showed responsible leadership and a determination to find a peaceful resolution. Both rejected hard-line advice and were careful not to escalate the crisis. Khrushchev might even be said to have shown greater courage in making what was publicly seen as the larger concessions. However in my opinion, the responsibility for the crisis lies on both side equally since both men had acted recklessly in bringing the crisis about. Khrushchev should have realised the dangers of introducing nuclear weapons into Cuba. The Soviet Union was used to missiles being directed at it by its enemies, such as the German missiles during WW2, and did not see that "protection of allies" as an act of war. Still the US reaction to missiles being so close to its shores should have been predictable by the Russians. Conventional forces, perhaps a couple of Soviet armoured brigades, should have been enough to deter a US invasion of Cuba, without risking a major confrontation. Kennedy, on the other hand, allowed his vendetta against Castro to overcome good sense, he was trying to free the Cuban people against their own will and mainly he rejected the use of discreet diplomacy. A secret message to Moscow, requiring the quiet removal of the missiles, might have avoided a confrontation. It seems that Kennedy felt he had to make a tough stand after the "Bay of Pigs" or that he was thinking about the implication of his acts on the coming congressional elections. However, Kennedy certainly came out of the crisis with an enhanced reputation in the west. Khrushchev, for his part, was deemed by his colleagues to have suffered a humiliation, and the crisis was one of the issues that led to his being deposed in October 1964.

In the final analysis, both side are equally responsible for the outbreak of that crises which involved the superpowers prestige and dominance appearance more than any real threat to humanity. The world was fortunate that the greatest crisis of the Cold War arose when it did. In 1962, Kennedy and Khrushchev had days to consider their position and think through their options and luckily they both came to their senses in just a short while. At a later date, when technological advances had made missile launch times shorter and submarines quieter and when decisions could be made in minutes, the consequences could easily have been catastrophic. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, both sides were careful to avoid such circumstances and a hotline between the US and the Soviet Union was formed in order to prevent such crisis from happening again. One Cuban Missile Crisis was enough.