The Cuban Missile Crisis.

In July 1962, Khrushchev secretly began to build 42 missile sites in Cuba. In October, an American spy plane discovered the sites. President John Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy immediately organized a group of his twelve most important advisers to handle the crisis. After seven days of guarded and intense debate, Kennedy concluded to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. He wished to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island.

On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and also announced a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent the Soviets from installing more missiles. He proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union and demanded that the Soviets remove all of their offensive weapons from Cuba. Castro Protested his country's being used as a pawn in the Cold War. But Castro was deeply involved. People around the world feared nuclear war. Fortunately Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in return for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba. The resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis left Castro completely dependent on Soviet support.