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Why did the US fail to prevent the spread of communism to Cuba?
whilst the removal of the missiles from Cuba was published by the American and Western media. This even true with the Cuban leader himself, believed that Khrushchev had too easily capitulated to the American President to the extent that he briefly broke off diplomatic relations. Castro was only convinced to talk to Soviet Emissary Mikoyan once the threat of cutting off Cuba’s oil supply was made: relations were though still at a lengthy distance. By 1968 the USSR had seriously started to restrict oil shipments and other economic aid; that in 1970 Castro had to return back into the Soviet fold.
As the crisis started, it had ended, with deceit and cover-up stories: Khrushchev could not be seen to back down to Capitalism, by the communist community; likewise JFK could not be seen to be removing the missiles from Turkey, as they would be contravening UN policy to further its own gain. The balance of owe had been redressed, which Khrushchev had intended to.
After the collapse of the USSR the Cuban economy took a sever downturn and is now rating as one of the lowest income per capita in the world. Without the guiding and resources of the old Soviet bloc Cuba is lost in a mire of political, economic and social ruin. Yet communism shows all the signs of continuing in Castro’s Cuba, there as been the continual degradation of all its citizens’ rights.
The US did fail to prevent the spread of communism to Cuba: it was a shinning example of what the USSR could provide to a country under threat from American imperialism. Without the communist fears that were notably brought about by McCarthyism and the ardent desire of the US to ‘win’ the Cold War, the US would not have been so willing to jump to certain conclusions that were not based on fact. Had the US been more willing to appease Castro, and help him in his attempts to stabilise the Cuban economy and Cuban society then, it would appear that the communist tendencies would have been suppressed. Yet, had the US tried to appease the Cuban dictator then the international consequences would have been dire for JFK, just as Khrushchev had come under fire from the rest of the socialist camp at the end of the Cuban missile crisis. The US administrations did though prevent the spread of communism to the rest of Latin America: this is though equally due to the US efforts, as it was to the economic and international strain that the aid to Cuba produced. The US had proved a formidable enemy, but the USSR had shown itself to be resourceful and more than a force to be reckoned with.