Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba?
The USA had missiles in Turkey
This was the first time the USSR had placed missiles outside its own borders. The USA already had Jupiter missiles pointed at the USSR in Turkey, close to the USSR's southern border. Khrushchev was able to argue that this was a defensive measure to protect the USSR against the aggression of the USA.
Khrushchev's opinion of JFK
Soviet Premier (Leader) Khrushchev underestimated Kennedy. He believed Kennedy was weak and inexperienced. The Bay of Pigs fiasco in April 1961 had made Kennedy look incompetant and Khrushchev saw this as an opportunity to get the upper hand in the Cold War. Also, when the two met in Vienna in June 1961, Khrushchev had tried to bully Kennedy over a number of issues and Kennedy put up little resistance.
The Building of the Berlin Wall
In August 1961, Khrushchev decided to build the Berlin Wall around West Berlin to stop anyone from getting in, or out, of West Berlin. Kennedy did nothing in response and so Khrushchev believed that Kennedy would do nothing to stop him should he put missiles in Cuba. Khrushchev could then use the missiles to threaten America whenever he needed to.
This was the first time the USSR had placed missiles outside its own borders. The USA already had Jupiter missiles pointed at the USSR in Turkey, close to the USSR's southern border. Khrushchev was able to argue that this was a defensive measure to protect the USSR against the aggression of the USA.
Khrushchev's opinion of JFK
Soviet Premier (Leader) Khrushchev underestimated Kennedy. He believed Kennedy was weak and inexperienced. The Bay of Pigs fiasco in April 1961 had made Kennedy look incompetant and Khrushchev saw this as an opportunity to get the upper hand in the Cold War. Also, when the two met in Vienna in June 1961, Khrushchev had tried to bully Kennedy over a number of issues and Kennedy put up little resistance.
The Building of the Berlin Wall
In August 1961, Khrushchev decided to build the Berlin Wall around West Berlin to stop anyone from getting in, or out, of West Berlin. Kennedy did nothing in response and so Khrushchev believed that Kennedy would do nothing to stop him should he put missiles in Cuba. Khrushchev could then use the missiles to threaten America whenever he needed to.