During the Cuban Missile Crisis, why did the more powerful Soviet Union take the initiative to beg for mercy?
In October 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis broke out, and the United States and the Soviet Union entered a strategic confrontation, and World War III was on the verge of breaking out. As the only two superpowers after World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union have affected changes in the world situation with their every move. After more than 10 days of confrontation, Khrushchev took the initiative to beg for mercy and withdrew the nuclear bombs stored in Cuba, thus putting an end to the matter.
But although the matter ended, it left a mystery for future generations. Why did the Soviet Union, which clearly had the upper hand in the Cold War, go so far as to give in first? What terrible impact did Khrushchev's plea for mercy have?
To explain the Cuban Missile Crisis clearly, we must start with the game between the United States and the Soviet Union in the Cold War. Since the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union have begun to demarcate spheres of influence around the world and have begun to compete in the Cold War in an attempt to gain world leadership. In 1959, the United States deployed medium-range missiles in Turkey, which seriously threatened the security of the Soviet homeland. The Soviets were unhappy with this, but they couldn't find a suitable opportunity, so they couldn't do anything about it.
But the Soviet Union, a superpower that even overtook the United States in the early days of the Cold War, could never bear this humiliation. It didn't take long for the Soviets to discover that they could use the newly formed Red Government of Cuba to retaliate against the United States.
The coming to power of the Cuban communist government contributed to the arrangement of the Khrushchev missile program. In 1962, the Soviet Union reached a secret agreement with Cuba to begin secretly transporting dozens of medium-range nuclear bombs and deploying them in Cuba.
But unfortunately, because the secrecy is not in place. The Soviet Union's "small moves" were noticed by the United States, and eventually the United States and the Soviet Union began a confrontation that lasted for more than ten days. In the face of the nuclear threat, both sides were initially reluctant to compromise easily. The United States has even directly dispatched nuclear weapons and aircraft carrier armies to be ready to launch World War III at any time.
In the face of the strength of the United States, the Soviet Union, which had the advantage on the surface, lowered its posture. Khrushchev personally sent a letter to the White House, hoping that the matter could be resolved peacefully. Subsequently, the United States also actively promoted a peaceful settlement and defused the Cuban Missile Crisis.
But why is such a mutually beneficial event considered a great defeat for the Soviet Union?
In fact, this is where the United States excels. Although the withdrawal of troops from both sides ultimately protected the peace of the world situation, the end of the incident was marked by the withdrawal of missiles by Soviet troops. Although the United States has also withdrawn its own missiles deployed in Turkey, it has been done in secret and without public opinion.
As a result, it is very easy for all countries in the world to turn their minds in public opinion and inevitably look down on the Soviet Union. Although this act was for the sake of peace, it dealt a serious blow to the enthusiasm of the Soviet army and international communism.
Khrushchev's recklessness not only caused the Soviet Union to lose face, but also made all communist countries suspicious and fearful of the future. After all, the Soviet Union, as the leader of communism, was so cowardly and deceitful in the face of the United States, and took the initiative to abandon the interests of its ally Cuba. So what's the point of developing communism at home, and will it be abandoned in the future?
Under such a powerful tide of public opinion, the United States opened its propaganda machine to infinitely magnify the mistakes made by the Soviet Union in this incident, and perfectly shaped the image of the Soviet Union as a loser.
Since then, the Soviet Union, although it has suffered no military losses, has begun to lose ground in the Cold War struggle. The international communist movement also fell into a trough because of the Soviet Union's advance and retreat.
Although from the perspective of humanity as a whole, the peaceful resolution of the Cuban missile crisis is of positive significance. However, Khrushchev's erroneous methods caused this incident to seriously damage the overall strength of the Soviet Union and the communist alliance, causing irreparable effects.
