The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. It began when American U-2 spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was secretly installing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the United States. This discovery triggered a 13-day standoff between the two superpowers.

President John F. Kennedy, determined to prevent the deployment of nuclear weapons in Cuba, imposed a naval blockade around the island and demanded the removal of the missiles. The world watched in suspense as tensions escalated, and both sides prepared for the worst.

Fortunately, through backchannel diplomacy and intense negotiations, a peaceful resolution was reached. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret promise to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.

The Cuban Missile Crisis marked a turning point in the Cold War, highlighting the dangers of nuclear brinkmanship and the importance of diplomacy in resolving international conflicts. It also led to improved communication channels between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, such as the establishment of the “hotline” to prevent future crises.