The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense political and military standoff between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba in October 1962. The key events of the crisis included the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba by US surveillance planes, followed by a naval blockade of Cuba by the US and a buildup of military forces in both countries. The US demanded that the Soviet Union remove the missiles, while the Soviet Union demanded that the US remove its missiles from Turkey.
After a tense standoff, the crisis was resolved with the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and to remove its missiles from Turkey. The outcome of the crisis was seen as a victory for the US and a setback for the Soviet Union, with the US demonstrating its strength and resolve during the crisis.
The Cuban Missile Crisis had significant effects on the balance of power during the Cold War. It marked the closest that the US and the Soviet Union came to nuclear war, and highlighted the dangers of brinkmanship and nuclear weapons. The crisis also led to improved communications between the US and the Soviet Union, as well as increased efforts at arms control and disarmament. Overall, the Cuban Missile Crisis further entrenched the rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, but it also highlighted the need for cooperation and diplomacy to avoid catastrophic conflict.