In spite of attempts to create goodwill between the two power blocs (such as at Camp David Summit), tensions continued to escalate. In 1962, the first direct confrontation of the Cold War took place. This was the Cuban Missile Crisis. Cuba is a small nation off the coast of the USA. It had the support of the USSR. Due to its’ strategic location, then Soviet Premier, Khrushchev, decided to convert Cuba into a Soviet base by placing nuclear missiles there. This was a serious, direct threat to the USA which retaliated with a naval blockade of Cuba. There was a real possibility of a nuclear war. But, both superpowers realized the need to prevent such a situation and USSR withdrew its missiles from Cuba.
