Cuban Missile Crisis The lives of the world were in the hands of President John F. Kennedy and the Soviet’s new leader, Nikita Khrushchev as they struggle to reach an agreement due to the growing tension of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The crisis started when the United States discovered the Soviets had set up nuclear missiles off the coast of Florida, on the little country of Cuba. On October 22nd, President Kennedy announced to the public about the discovery of the nuclear missiles on Cuba and ordered a naval quarantine around the island. President Kennedy also announced a launch of one of the nuclear missiles would mean an act of war and the United States demanded the removal of the nuclear missiles from Cuba. For the next thirteen days, the world was on a verge of a third world war as the two super power countries brawl it out with nuclear threats. The factors that lead to this event were the Soviet’s insecurities of losing the arms race to the United States and Cuba’s fear of United States invasion. In 1960, the United States imposed an embargo which cut trade with Cuba and the United States due to the fear of Castro establishing a communist regime. Pressured by the embargo, Castro decided to build a closer relationship with the Soviets than giving into the United States. United States tried to overthrow Castro with the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Defeated effortlessly by Castro’s army, it ensured his rule over Cuba. Furthermore, many Cubans resented the intervention proposed by the United States, thus increasing Castro’s supporters and declared the island as a Communist nation. Overwhelmed by the many provisions Kennedy must be aware of, he did not know what actions to take. As Kennedy’s advisors suggested a blockade of Cuba, which would mean an invasion, would mean as an act of war. Soviet offered the United States a deal of removing their missiles from Cuba only if United States would remove their missiles from Turkey. Although the United States denied their offer, Kennedy replied to Khrushchev’s message stating that they would not invade Cuba if the missiles are removed. In the meantime, Kennedy arranged a private meeting with Khrushchev at the Soviet Embassy in Washington D.C to warn Khrushchev that they would grow impatient and the United States would force itself to attack. He also informed they would be closely supervising the military activities in Cuba. Threatened of another global outbreak, Khrushchev announced publicly in the radio on October 28th, 1962 that he would remove