What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and how did it affect US-Cuba relations?

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and how did it affect US-Cuba relations?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba. The crisis occurred when the US discovered Soviet missile sites in Cuba, which posed a direct threat to the United States. It led to a tense standoff between the two superpowers, with the US demanding the removal of the missiles and imposing a naval blockade around Cuba. Eventually, a negotiated settlement was reached, with the US agreeing not to invade Cuba and the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis had a significant impact on US-Cuba relations. It further strained the already tense relationship between the two countries. The crisis heightened the US' concerns about the communist government in Cuba and its alignment with the Soviet Union. As a result, the US implemented a strict economic embargo on Cuba, isolating the country and cutting off diplomatic relations. This embargo, which is still in place today, has had a lasting impact on US-Cuba relations, contributing to decades of hostility and limited engagement between the two nations.