By Anonymous

In the 20th century, geopolitical conflicts plagued humanity— from Japan’s invasions of China and the islands in the pacific ocean to Germany’s conquests in Europe, to name a few. World War 1 and 2 showed how ruthless and inhumane countries could become if the situation arose. World War 2 was a dark time for humanity, characterised by horrific displays of power, such as the Holocaust and the first-ever use of the nuclear bomb.

Developed in the middle of the Arizona Desert as a part of a mission known as the Manhattan Project, the United States created the first and second nuclear weapons of destruction. Dropping on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, these two bombs destroyed the cities, decimated their entire populations, and rendered the land useless. To this day, residents can still feel the effects of the radiation in the air. Even after witnessing the horrific impact of these nuclear weapons, the aftermath of the bombings was a mad rush between nations to create arsenals of these horrendous weapons. The years following World War II saw the Soviet Union, China, and France developing and storing their nuclear warheads. The global advent of these weapons led to one of the most suspenseful and terrifying days humanity had ever seen, now referred to as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After establishing diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in 1959, Fidel Castro, the leftist leader of Cuba, was now dependent on them for military aid. The US had launched a failed landing operation, known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion, into Cuba, which encouraged the nation to oppose the United States and thus side with the Soviets. The Soviet Union was also insecure about the American missiles established in Turkey and thus agreed to provide Cuba with aid to “balance the playing field.” Therefore, in October 1962, the Soviet Union installed armed nuclear missiles on the shores of Cuba, just 90 miles away from United States borders. Such a bold action was met with resistance from the US, leading to a 13-day standoff between the two superpowers, who had access to weapons of mass destruction and were not afraid to use them.

The height of the Cuban Missile Crisis was October 27th, 1962. The Soviet Union had sent out four missiles from their base in Alaska to be permanently stationed in Cuban waters. Aboard each of these vessels was a highly destructive nuclear torpedo. The key could only unlock the firing mechanism when both halves, each with a high ranking member aboard the vessel, were put together. This meant that the submarine could only release the torpedo if both officials agreed. This method prevented the start of nuclear war from being the responsibility of a single individual or nation. However, deep underwater, the submarines were in the midst of battle, and the Captain Savitsky of the B-59 submarine wanted to fire their missile. This move would have started an all-out nuclear war and reduced much of the entire world to rubble and atomic wasteland.

Aboard the B-59, with the other half of the firing key, Chief of Staff Vasili Arkhipov was an ardent naysayer of this plan. He had to convince the captain not to fire their missile with the other half. The time was tense, the United States may have fired its missiles, and the country that fired first would almost certainly have the edge over the other. Arkhipov vehemently disagreed with the captain and persuaded him, single-handedly preventing what could have been catastrophic destruction. Due to his role as the only person to proclaim his dissent of nuclear warfare,Arkhipov is widely recognised as the man who saved the world. Humanity would have almost certainly bombed itself back to extinction without his actions.

Even now, the lessons of this prominent chapter of history remain unlearnt. Tensions are high with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the United States is showing off its might by its over-involvement in the Syrian and Afghanistan Wars. There is conflict in all corners of the globe, with high levels of violence even in Israel and Palestine. Countries and their technologies have come a long way since 1962. Many more nations now have their reserves stockpiled with nuclear warheads, with many more on the way. Tempers are flaring between world leaders, and many believe that nuclear warfare is soon to come. In my opinion, the world is yet to see its darkest days. One can only hope that leaders across the world put aside their personal agendas and prioritize the greater good.