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What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

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Quick answer

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in 1962 when the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war before a negotiated deal defused it — the closest the Cold War came to catastrophe.

Key things to understand

  1. It happened in October 1962 during the Cold War.
  2. The USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, near the US.
  3. A US naval blockade and tense talks followed.
  4. A secret deal to remove missiles ended the standoff peacefully.

People also ask

What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The Soviet Union secretly placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, within striking range of the United States.
How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?
The USSR removed its missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and to quietly remove missiles from Turkey.
Why was it so dangerous?
It brought the US and USSR closer to direct nuclear war than any other point in the Cold War.