The Cuban Missile Crisis Explained In 20 Minutes | Best Cold War Documentary

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a significant conflict during the Cold War, marking the closest point the world came to a nuclear apocalypse in October 1962. It involved the deployment of Soviet missiles in Cuba capable of striking major U.S. cities. U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev engaged in a tense standoff as both superpowers prepared for potential war, raising fears of global destruction within a mere 90 miles of the American coast, amidst an escalating arms race.

Tensions peaked after the U.S. had an upper hand with significant nuclear arsenals and established missiles in Europe. The crisis escalated with Fidel Castro's rise to power in Cuba and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion led by Kennedy, pressuring the U.S. to address the Cuban issue. Castor's collaboration with the Soviet Union resulted in missile deployments, prompting the U.S. to enhance military readiness while underestimating the secrecy of Soviet activities leading up to the crisis.

Kennedy's discovery of missile installations via U2 spy planes led to the establishment of a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further shipments, a decision made after careful deliberation among his advisors. Kennedy's announcement to the nation mobilized public sentiment, while Khrushchev faced the dilemma of navigating his response under growing panic in the U.S. The blockade successfully halted new missiles from arriving, although the situation intensified as military operations were being prepared on both sides, and calls for war echoed louder in Washington, D.C.