The failed Bay of Pigs invasion and continued US covert attacks made Castro and Khrushchev expect a new invasion.
In April 1961, about 1,400 Cuban exiles, trained and armed by the CIA, landed at the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy refused to send US air cover, and Castro's forces defeated them within three days.
The failure embarrassed Kennedy and strengthened Castro. It also convinced Castro and Khrushchev that the USA would try again, perhaps with its own forces.
From late 1961, the USA ran Operation Mongoose, a covert campaign of sabotage and plots against Castro. US military exercises in the Caribbean added to Cuban fears.
Khrushchev had also met Kennedy at Vienna in June 1961 and judged him inexperienced. The Berlin Wall went up in August 1961. Khrushchev believed he could take risks without a strong American response.
- Bay of Pigs
- April 1961: about 1,400 CIA-trained exiles defeated.
- Operation Mongoose
- Covert US campaign against Castro from late 1961.
- Vienna summit
- June 1961: Khrushchev judges Kennedy weak.
Worked example: Using the Bay of Pigs as context
A source shows Khrushchev claiming the missiles were defensive.
- Context: the Bay of Pigs and Operation Mongoose show the threat to Cuba was real.
- So the claim of defending Cuba is plausible.
- But defence alone does not explain why nuclear missiles were chosen, rather than troops and conventional arms.
- Judgement: the claim is partly valid but incomplete.
Watch out for this
The Bay of Pigs was a US Army invasion of Cuba.
It was carried out by Cuban exiles trained by the CIA. Kennedy deliberately kept US forces out of direct combat.
Check your understanding
How did the Bay of Pigs affect Cuban and Soviet thinking?
- It made them expect a further, stronger US invasion attempt.
- It convinced them the USA had given up on Cuba.
- It made Castro end ties with the USSR.