The Cuban missile crisis was significant because it was the closest the world had ever come to a nuclear war. The presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of the United States, created a tense standoff between the two superpowers. The crisis ultimately led to a peaceful resolution, with the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba in exchange for the United States removing its missiles from Turkey. The crisis also highlighted the dangers of nuclear weapons and the importance of diplomacy in avoiding catastrophic conflict. Additionally, the Cuban missile crisis influenced future efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and promote arms control agreements.
