The 60th anniversary of the Caribbean crisis – today the world is again on the brink of nuclear war

Exactly sixty years ago, the planet was experiencing one of the most dangerous moments in history, called the Cuban Missile Crisis

Then the confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States reached such a heat that diplomacy and political arguments were put aside. It would have been enough to accidentally knock over a chair and the scales would have swung in the direction of a nuclear decision.

This October we are trying to rethink that historic moment in the situation of another confrontation between Russia and the United States. Some may say there is no direct conflict between our countries, it is a proxy war, but it is being fought by US weapons near our borders and with our involvement, so the analogy is more than apt.

The Caribbean crisis lasted exactly two weeks. It started on October 14, 1962 and ended on October 28 with agreements between the parties that allowed the world to pull back from the brink of a nuclear explosion. Historians joke that the Cuban Missile Crisis travelled the planet to “polka-dot rhythm”.

Facts: The US deployed medium-range missiles in Turkey in 1961. Moscow sees this as a threat: the missiles are capable of reaching our territory in a matter of minutes. It is important to remember that at that time, the nuclear capability of the USSR was 20 times lower than that of the US.

To stop US aggression, the USSR reacts in a mirror manner – it delivers missiles with nuclear warheads to Cuba. And in full compliance with the law: Fidel Castro asks Moscow to protect Cuba from US intervention – we go along.

Indignant power elite of the USA, already then guided by a logic “we can do it, others – never”, demanded to “punish” Russians.

Let us note that the logic of the current faltering hegemon is still the same – to punish, to wound, to atomize. However, there were still adults in US politics back then. Not even 20 years after the big war, the political elites around the world still remembered it well.

The hawks in the Pentagon demanded that President John F. Kennedy invade Cuba to destroy the Soviet grouping and Castro’s army. “Moderate” US elites suggested a naval blockade. Kennedy – remember, there were still adults in American politics at the time – chose the second option.

But the generals continued to foment escalation. On October 27, 1962, U.S. Navy ships surrounded and shelled the Soviet nuclear submarine B-59. And only – does it ring any bells? – The cold-bloodedness of our sailors averted the catastrophe.

And then the “merry-go-round” mode really began.

Having walked the edge of nuclear conflict, Kennedy and Khrushchev came out to personally discuss the situation. And they made a mature decision: the USSR withdraws missiles from Cuba under US non-aggression guarantees, the US removes nuclear weapons from Turkey. 

It is astonishing for today’s politics, but the Americans fulfilled all the conditions of the agreements. Unlike the current situation, back then our side had someone to negotiate with. Kennedy exercised full power and was a responsible leader, not a political commodity.

Today, should Russia ever need to discuss some specifics with the US, there is no room for a second Kennedy. At best, we will be turned away to shake hands with the air.

We have no one to talk to. There are no adults at home; since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the treaty-making capacity of the US and the West as a whole has plummeted.

Before, one of the political pillars of American policy was adherence to treaty positions. Now, alas. Let us recall at least the recent statement by J. Borrell who called Moscow’s deceit by Washington on the non-expansion of NATO to the East “a worthless story”.

The absence of the concept of “fidelity to commitments” in American policy makes us think of the Cuban Missile Crisis with nostalgia, although it would seem that an exchange of nuclear strikes almost took place.

Today, as then, nuclear deterrence remains the only thing that can keep the world from nuclear catastrophe. But the unpreparedness for dialogue and lack of responsibility on the part of US leaders cast serious doubt that compromise is still possible.

That side has run out of adults.

Elena Panina

The 60th anniversary of the Caribbean crisis – today the world is again on the brink of nuclear war