Nuclear Diplomacy/ op-ed/ 20-june-2024
In October 1962, two superpowers of the world, the US and the Soviet Union, confronted each other politically and militarily. It was a thirteen-day standoff during the Cold War. The US uncovered the Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba which initiated the 1962 crisis. After going through various options, US President John F Kennedy decided to curtail the situation by establishing a ‘naval blockade’ around Cuba to prevent the Soviets from bringing more weaponry in the region. This dilemma started to de-escalate after intense diplomatic engagement between both superpowers. As a result, the Soviets withdrew their nuclear missiles in the region. On the other hand, the US agreed not to invade Cuba while secretly withdrawing their nuclear weapons from Turkey. In the history of mankind, this was the closest point where the world could have witnessed an all-out nuclear war.
Importance of Cuban Missile Crisis
Due to ramifications of the Cuban Missile Crisis on nuclear diplomacy, balance of power (BOP), and the dynamics of Cold War, it is considered as a significant regional and global event.
Regional and Global Importance
One of the biggest regional complication was for the national security of Cuba. After the failure of Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961, the Soviet missiles were perceived as dormant and potential barrier against the US aggression. However, this crisis proved to be a catalyst for already tense US-Cuba relations. Furthermore, the USSR military challenged the US by infiltrating its stronghold of influence.
The world was on the verge of all-out nuclear war. But the agreement between the US and the USSR demonstrated the invaluable significance of nuclear diplomacy during conflict resolution. This crisis highlighted the urgent need for establishment of direct communication between superpowers which resulted in the form of “Hotline”. In addition, the era of détente began when both nations realized the importance of arms control and perceived threats of nuclear weapons. It laid the foundations for different agreements like Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963, Outer Space Treaty of 1967, Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970, Strategic Arms Limitation Talks of 1972 etc. making the world a safe place to live.
Understanding Contemporary Geopolitics
Global politics is a multifaceted framework with various players involved. The complexities of geopolitics and the ability of miscommunication in conflict-escalation exemplifies the Cuban Missile Crisis as a classical and historical event to understand the risks associated with nuclear weapons and military involvement. Regional players play an important role in shaping the international security environment, global politics, and interests of global politics players. As of Cuban Missile Crisis, Cuba became a nuclear flashpoint for Cold War rivalry and Castro Fidel, an interest-based player for the Soviets in Cuba.
The Soviet strategic depth in Cuba posed a direct threat to the national security of the US. It was an introduction to the catastrophic potential of nuclear proliferation. The positive outcome of this introduction to nuclear proliferation helped in initiating arms control agreements while assisting in the awareness of nuclear related risks.It was superpower’s intervention that intensified the situation and it was diplomacy which was able to defuse it. This conflict was able to highlight the importance of diplomacy in resolving international disputes. It illustrates the potential of diplomatic engagements in assisting contemporary conflict resolution challenges.
In the contemporary times, Pakistan-India rivalry escalated back in 2019 during Pulwama Crisis. After direct military confrontation in Kargil War of 1999, Pulwama Crisis was the second direct military confrontation between two nuclear armed countries. Operation Swift Retort was indeed a lesson learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was an efficient diplomatic show of power by Pakistan. Retaining the nuclear threshold, the power relations and power dynamics were illustrated. Instead of engaging in full-scale nuclear war, both nations demonstrated the teachings of nuclear diplomacy during Cuban Missile Crisis.
Similarly, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine also depicts the lessons learned by the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Russians are off the view that they can impose their will and safeguard their interests either diplomatically or militarily. They certainly know the risks associated with nuclear weapons. That is reason that Russia is utilizing its conventional capabilities rather than nuclear. This Russian invasion illustrates the power relations among nations.
Military equality puts the diplomatic skills of states to test. Whereas military disparity rules out the option of diplomacy for the stronger state as it wants to retain the upper hand and deliberately impose its will on weaker state either by power or politics.
Conclusion
The power of diplomatic efforts is invaluable. Diplomacy works in every sphere of state affair. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear diplomacy gave a new dimension to international relations. From the initial stages of conflict to conflict resolution, diplomatic engagements are key to peaceful world. Furthermore, nuclear proliferation is real. The Cuban Missile Crisis laid the foundations for arms control agreements. It showed its potential for global destruction. The US and the Soviets must be accredited for their late but necessary approach on disarmament. The responsible and mature steps taken by the US and the USSR on disarmament at that time are the reason behind the survival of mankind today.
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