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Why did Nikita Khrushchev place missiles in Cuba?

Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time, decided to place missiles in Cuba for several reasons:
  • Strategic Balance: The United States had already deployed nuclear missiles in Turkey, which posed a direct threat to the Soviet Union. Khrushchev saw the deployment of missiles in Cuba as a way to create a strategic balance and a deterrent against a potential U.S. attack on the Soviet Union.
  • Protection of Cuba: Khrushchev wanted to provide military support to Fidel Castro's government in Cuba, which had become a communist ally and a symbol of resistance against American imperialism in the Western Hemisphere. The placement of missiles in Cuba was intended to protect Cuba from potential U.S. aggression and to solidify Soviet support for the Cuban revolution.
  • Geopolitical Considerations: Khrushchev saw an opportunity to gain leverage in global politics by placing missiles in Cuba. The presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba could enhance the Soviet Union's geopolitical influence, challenge U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, and potentially force the United States into negotiations on various international issues.
  • Domestic Political Factors: Khrushchev faced criticism within the Soviet Union for his handling of the Cold War and his perceived "softness" towards the United States. Placing missiles in Cuba was a way for Khrushchev to project strength and demonstrate his commitment to protecting Soviet interests and expanding Soviet influence in the face of domestic pressure.

Operation Anaydr

Operation Anadyr, was a covert military operation conducted by the Soviet Union in the early 1960s. It involved the deployment of strategic ballistic missiles and military personnel to Cuba, in response to the United States' placement of missiles in Turkey and Italy, posing a threat to the Soviet Union.
Under the cover of civilian aid and development, the Soviet Union transported nuclear missiles to Cuba from Anadyr, a city in the Soviet Far East. This deployment sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

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