The major historical event that involved a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over missile placements in Cuba is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Occurring in October 1962, this 13-day confrontation began when the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, just 90 miles from the American coast. The crisis marked a peak in Cold War tensions and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Ultimately, the crisis was resolved when the U.S. agreed not to invade Cuba and the Soviets removed the missiles in exchange for the U.S. withdrawing missiles from Turkey.