The USSR began sending nuclear weapons to Cuba, a Cold War ally, in 1962 to prepare for a possible US invasion of the island. Reports of the arms were received in July in the USA, and in October a US spy plane sighted a missile on a launch site. The close presence of nuclear weapons that could destroy the Eastern seaboard within minutes of launching greatly alarmed the USA. After contemplating air strikes or full invasion of Cuba, the USA imposed a naval ‘quarantine’ (blockade) around the island on 22 October 1962, with the intent to seize any Soviet weapons or military equipment being shipped. The two superpowers came closer to possible nuclear war than at any other time. On 28 October Khrushchev gave way to Kennedy's demands to withdraw the missiles, after Kennedy promised not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also secretly undertook to dismantle US missile bases in Turkey (a US ally that bordered the USSR). However, this was not made public, so most Americans believed that the USSR was forced to back down solely because of US military pressure. On 2 November Kennedy announced that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled.

Some historians maintain that Khrushchev had assumed that the USA would not try to prevent the installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba because of Kennedy's lack of resolve during the Bay of Pigs invasion attempt.

In August 1979 there was a lesser crisis when US president Carter discovered a Soviet combat brigade on the island, but failed to enforce its withdrawal.

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Kennedy, John: Cuban Missile Crisis Address

Stevenson, Adlai: Has the USSR Missiles in Cuba?

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Cuban Missile Crisis

Historical Text Archive - Cuban Missile Crisis

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Cuban missile crisis debate