Why did the Soviet Union choose Cuba as their location for nuclear weapons in what became known as the "Cuban Missile Crisis"?

Question

Responses

A It was a small country, so they were easily forced into cooperate with the Soviets. It was a small country, so they were easily forced into cooperate with the Soviets.

B The mountainous land of Cuba was an ideal location for hiding weapons at that time. The mountainous land of Cuba was an ideal location for hiding weapons at that time.

C It was close to the U.S., which gave the Soviets the ability to threaten a nuclear attack.It was close to the U.S., which gave the Soviets the ability to threaten a nuclear attack.

D Cubans wanted to become communist, so Cuban leaders cooperated with the Soviets.

Answer 1

The most accurate response is:

C It was close to the U.S., which gave the Soviets the ability to threaten a nuclear attack.

The Soviet Union's placement of nuclear weapons in Cuba was strategic, as it allowed them to project power and threaten the United States directly, given Cuba's proximity to the U.S. mainland. This move was part of the broader Cold War context, where both superpowers sought to gain military advantages over the other.