The escalation of tensions during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was primarily caused by the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. This revelation heightened fears in the U.S. of a direct nuclear threat and led to President Kennedy's decision to implement a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of military equipment. In addition, the Cold War context, marked by a history of distrust and confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, contributed to the crisis. Ultimately, diplomatic negotiations and back-channel communications resolved the situation, diffusing a potential nuclear confrontation.