The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 marked the closest approach to nuclear conflict during the Cold War. This 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union arose when American reconnaissance discovered Soviet ballistic missile installations in Cuba, just 90 miles from Florida. The crisis heightened tensions between the two superpowers, leading to intense negotiations. Ultimately, President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev reached an agreement to dismantle the missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba and the secret removal of U.S. missiles in Turkey. The crisis underscored the importance of communication and diplomatic channels in averting nuclear war.