Cuban Missile Crisis

Definition

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba. It is considered one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War.

Related terms

Nuclear proliferation: The spread or increase in the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons or utilizing nuclear energy for non-peaceful purposes.

Blockade runner: A ship that attempts to bypass or break through a naval blockade without being caught by enemy forces.

Détente: A period characterized by a relaxation of tensions between rival nations, often referring specifically to an easing of Cold War tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the 1970s.