Nuclear missiles in Cuba 2.0, September 1970 archaeology of the former Soviet nuclear submarine base at Cayo Alcatráz, Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba

The Missile Crisis of October 1962 is widely recognized, yet a lesser-known Cold War confrontation occurred in Cuba in September 1970. That year, the Soviet Union initiated the construction of a nuclear submarine base on the islet of Cayo Alcatráz in Cienfuegos Bay on Cuba’s southern coast. The United States argued that the installation violated the “gentlemen’s agreement” established between the superpowers after the 1962 crisis. The situation developed into a diplomatic confrontation but was resolved through discreet nuclear diplomacy. Due to the emerging policy of détente between the superpowers, the crisis received limited public attention and has remained largely unknown. Nevertheless, material remains of this event persist on Cayo Alcatráz. By applying a contemporary archaeological approach that integrates archival research with the study of physical remains, the text complements the written historical accounts while offering new perspectives on Cold War history and its continuing relevance.