The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Cuban’s Perspective

The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a short-lived confrontation between the USA and the USSR, lasting just 13 days. It was the response to USA Jupiter missiles being stationed in Italy and Turkey, when the USSR levelled the playing field by surreptitiously placing missiles of its own in Cuba. When American reconnaissance discovered the existence of these missiles on Cuban soil, the events that followed affected Cuba’s economy, and it has continued to affect its people’s way of life to this very day.

Background

Prior to the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the USA had a large influence on Cuba, one that dated back to the early 1900s. Many of the businesses and industry in Cuba were American owned, which included Cuba’s main export of sugar. In the 1950s, Cuba was led by Fulgencio Batista, an unpopular dictator who the USA favoured because of his pro-American views. There was, however, unrest amongst the Cuban people, leading to an uprising and the seizure of power by Fidel Castro. Fidel became a symbol of the communist revolution in Latin America, whose revolution led to geopolitical tensions with the USA as he began to nationalise Cuban industry and expropriate American businesses.

Impact On The Cuban People

In response to Fidel’s actions, the USA employed a series of covert attacks, economic sanctions and trade embargoes. This led to diplomatic isolation and a period of heightened tension amongst the Cuban people, who feared the USA would overthrow their revolution. Citizens from all ages were organised into civilian militias who were drilled in anticipation of potential threats. The embargo put a stop to all USA exports to Cuba apart from food and medicine, but even this has meant limited medical supplies, exasperating the spread of the recent COVID-19 outbreak. The economy of Cuba has since seen a marked reduction in trade and investment, negatively impacting its infrastructure. Lack of goods and supplies have caused food shortages and malnutrition, while US travel restrictions have also led to social isolation from American relatives.

Long Term Effects Of The Cuban Missile Crisis

The effect of the embargo has generated a sense of unity and resourcefulness from the Cubans. The have since forged alliances with other countries such as Russia and China while establishing informal trade networks through the black market. However, the long-term impacts on Cuban culture have caused increased poverty, a lack of educational resources and youth emigration as its people have to look for new opportunities abroad. Although under the Obama administration talks took place that saw a relaxing of the measures, many of the agreed policies have later been halted or reversed. There must be hope that future political changes in the US and reforms from within Cuba continue to take place.