What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and how did it escalate tensions between the US and the Soviet Union?

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and how did it escalate tensions between the US and the Soviet Union?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union. It began when the US discovered that the Soviet Union was secretly installing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. This discovery led to a tense standoff, as the US demanded the removal of the missiles and imposed a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further shipments. The crisis escalated tensions between the US and the Soviet Union as both sides were on the brink of nuclear war. The US considered military action against Cuba, while the Soviet Union threatened to retaliate if attacked. Eventually, through intense negotiations, a peaceful resolution was reached, with the US agreeing not to invade Cuba and the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from the island. However, the Cuban Missile Crisis heightened the fear of nuclear war and highlighted the dangerous rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.