Why the US Embargoed Cuba: 1962 Missile Crisis Origins, Six Decades On

The US embargo on Cuba began February 7, 1962 (Proclamation 3447, JFK) — after the Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct 1962), not because of it. The trigger was Cuba's expropriation of US properties (1959–60) and alignment with USSR.

Chronology

1. 1959: Revolution; agrarian reform seizes US-owned land.
2. 1960: US cuts sugar quota; Cuba nationalizes US oil refineries, banks, utilities (~$1.8B claims).
3. Oct 1960: Partial embargo (except food/medicine).
4. Jan 1961: US breaks diplomatic relations.
5. Apr 1961: Bay of Pigs invasion fails.
6. Feb 1962: Full trade embargo declared.
7. Oct 1962: Missile Crisis — embargo already in place; intensified enforcement.
8. 1992: Cuban Democracy Act (Torricelli) — penalizes foreign subsidiaries trading with Cuba.
9. 1996: Helms-Burton Act — codifies embargo, allows suits for expropriated property.

Impact

• Cuba: Forced reliance on USSR (then Venezuela); dual currency; medical/education achievements despite scarcity.
• US: $1.2B/yr lost exports (USITC); farm/medical lobbies oppose.
• Global: UNGA votes 180+ to 2 (US/Israel) annually to end embargo.

Recent Shifts

• 2009: Obama eases remittances/travel.
• 2014–16: Diplomatic restoration; commercial flights; cruises.
• 2017–20: Trump reverses (individual travel ban, remittance caps, vessel ban).
• 2021–: Biden maintains Trump restrictions; reviews stalled.

Embargo remains — only Congress can lift it.