Cubas Nuclear Program :: essays research papers

Cuba does not possess nuclear weapons, and there are no credible reports of Cuban moves to acquire nuclear weapons. Cuba is not describe to possess chemical weapons, nor are there credible reports of Cuban posession of foresighted range ballistic missiles. Cuba is generally regarded as having a program of inquiry on biological warfare agents, though the scope and focus of this effort remains obscure and controversial. In 1990, Cubas air force, with about 150 Soviet-supplied fighters, including mod MiG-23 Floggers and MiG-29 Fulcrums, was probably the best equipped in Latin America. In 1994, Cubas gird forces were estimated to have 235,000 active duty personnel. Cuban military government agency has been aggressively reduced by the loss of Soviet subsidies. By 1999 the Revolutionary fortify Forces numbered about 60,000 regular troops. nuclear WeaponsTensions between the United States and Cuba peaked during the unserviceable Bay of Pigs invasion by anti-Castro Cubans supporte d by the United States on 07 April 1961. Taking advantage of Cubas fear of further U.S. armed aggression against the Island, the Soviets persuaded the Cuba into ambient economic and political links including military and defence arrangements. In the advert of 1962, there were un support reports that the Soviets were installing intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba. When evidence confirmed these reports, the resulting confrontation between Soviet Premier Khrushchev and US President buttocks F. Kennedy in October 1962 brought the world to the brink of war. Cuba is not a party to the Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). It signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco, a Latin American regional non-proliferation regime, but has not ratified the treaty and brought it into force. Cuba has entered into an balance with the IAEA to apply safeguards to individual nuclear facilities, including the partially completed Juragua nuclear power plant. The reactors that would be installed are of the VVER-400 type, an advanced model of the Soviet pressurized water reactor. on that point are serious concerns about the safety of the plant. However, since the plant does not come along to be economically viable, no international investors have been willing to yield funds for completion of the facility. Cuba has taken no action on the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and as of early 2000 was one of only four states that was not a signatory the others being Israel, India and Pakistan. Cubas position towards the NPT proceeds from a view that the proficient assistance aspect of the IAEAs activities had not produced so many benefits as the nuclear safeguards aspect, which implies a notable imbalance in the Agencys different sectors.