The event that preceded the establishment of modern nuclear arms control agreements was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. This confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union highlighted the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the need for diplomatic measures to control nuclear weapons. The crisis prompted both superpowers to engage in dialogue about arms control, ultimately leading to treaties like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968. The lessons learned during this tense period emphasized the importance of communication and cooperation in preventing nuclear conflict.