A major event in the 20th century that exemplified the tension of the Cold War in Cuba was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. This 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union was triggered when the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. The crisis marked one of the closest moments the world came to nuclear conflict, leading to heightened fears of nuclear war. It ultimately resulted in a negotiated settlement, with the U.S. agreeing not to invade Cuba, and the Soviets withdrawing their missiles, influencing international relations and Cold War dynamics significantly thereafter.