On October 14, 1962, U.S. reconnaissance efforts revealed a significant military escalation by the Soviet Union just 90 miles from American shores. A U-2 spy plane, taking high-altitude photographs over Cuba, detected the construction and installation of several medium-range ballistic missile sites. These missile positions were capable of delivering nuclear weapons to various locations within the United States, drastically shifting the balance of power during the Cold War. The photographs taken during this mission were analyzed by U.S. intelligence, confirming the suspicions that the USSR had provided military support to Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, who had aligned with the Soviet state in the wake of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

This intelligence finding was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, as it contradicted prior assurances from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that no offensive weapons would be placed in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy was faced with the immediate challenge of addressing the situation while balancing the need for a firm response and the risk of provoking a nuclear confrontation. The discovery set into motion a series of national security meetings and discussions that would dominate U.S. politics for the coming days as officials evaluated military and diplomatic options.

The tense climate led to the announcement of a naval blockade around Cuba, termed a 'quarantine', to prevent further shipments of weapons to the island from the Soviet Union. As both superpowers braced themselves for potential conflict, the world watched, realizing that the stakes had never been higher. This incident would later be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, defining a critical juncture in U.S.-Soviet relations and reshaping global politics.