The primary objective of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was to eliminate the perceived threat posed by Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. The crisis began when the United States discovered that the Soviet Union was secretly installing ballistic missiles in Cuba, leading to heightened tensions between the two superpowers. President John F. Kennedy sought to prevent the missiles from becoming operational by imposing a naval blockade and demanding their removal. Ultimately, the crisis culminated in a diplomatic agreement where the Soviets withdrew their missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba, showcasing the precariousness of Cold War geopolitics.