#OnThisDate October 16, 1962 - Cuban Crisis Ignites

The Cuban Missile Crisis, A Pivotal Moment In Cold War History, Began.

This Day Marked The Start Of A Tense 13-Day Confrontation Between The United States And The Soviet Union, Bringing The World Closer To Nuclear War Than Ever Before.

President John F. Kennedy Was Informed By His National Security Team That American U-2 Spy Planes Had Captured Photographs Revealing Soviet Missile Installations In Cuba.

These Sites, Only 90 Miles Off The Coast Of Florida, Were Capable Of Launching Nuclear Missiles That Could Strike Major U.S. Cities Within Minutes.

The Discovery Immediately Escalated Tensions Between The Two Superpowers.

Kennedy Convened An Emergency Meeting Of The Executive Committee Of The National Security Council To Deliberate Over Potential Responses.

Options Ranged From A Full-Scale Invasion Of Cuba To A Naval Blockade, Which Was Ultimately Chosen.

Kennedy Announced The Blockade On October 22, Demanding The Removal Of The Missiles And Warning Of Severe Consequences If The U.S. Was Attacked.

The Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, Initially Refused To Comply, Intensifying The Standoff.

The World Anxiously Awaited The Outcome As The U.S. Military Prepared For Potential War.

However, Diplomacy Prevailed.

On October 28, Khrushchev Agreed To Dismantle The Missile Sites In Exchange For A U.S. Promise Not To Invade Cuba And A Secret Agreement To Remove U.S. Missiles From Turkey.

This Crisis Remains One Of The Most Significant Moments Of The Cold War, Illustrating The Catastrophic Potential Of Nuclear Conflict And The Importance Of Diplomatic Negotiations In Resolving International Tensions​.

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