US President John F. Kennedy addressed the American public on television on 22 October 1962, announcing the discovery of Soviet missile bases in Cuba and ordering a naval blockade of the island, marking the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The announcement brought the United States and the Soviet Union into a confrontation that threatened to escalate into nuclear war.
How the crisis unfolded
The discovery followed US surveillance flights over Cuba, which produced photographic evidence of Soviet missile installations under construction. The missiles could carry nuclear warheads and reach major cities across the United States.
In his 22 October address, Kennedy demanded the removal of the missile bases and announced a naval “quarantine” to prevent further offensive weapons from reaching Cuba. The administration used the term “quarantine” rather than “blockade” because a blockade could be regarded as an act of war.
The announcement marked the start of 13 days of intense confrontation between Washington and Moscow. The standoff raised fears of a nuclear conflict between the two superpowers as diplomatic negotiations continued.
How the Cuban Missile Crisis ended
The crisis reached a turning point on 28 October 1962, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba. The United States, in turn, pledged not to invade the island. A separate, undisclosed understanding also involved the removal of US Jupiter missiles from Turkey.
The confrontation became one of the defining episodes of the Cold War, highlighting the dangers of nuclear escalation and the importance of diplomacy between rival powers.
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