Answer:
The conflict that lasted 13 days and threatened global nuclear war was the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Explanation:
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union regarding the deployment of Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba in response to US missiles deployed in Turkey and Italy. The incident, which took place during John Fitzgerald Kennedy's presidency, was considered one of the most critical moments of the Cold War when it came closer to a nuclear war.
Although the Kremlin had denied the presence of dangerous Soviet missiles 90 miles from Florida, suspicions were confirmed when a United States Air Force Lockheed U-2 spy plane produced clear photographic evidence of the presence of medium-range ballistic missiles. The United States set up a military bloc to prevent further missiles from reaching Cuba, announcing that they would not allow new deliveries of offensive weapons to Cuba and demanding that the missiles already on the island be dismantled and returned to the Soviet Union.
After a long period of close negotiations, an agreement was reached between US President John F. Kennedy and Russian President Nikita Jruschev. Publicly, the Soviets would have dismantled their offensive weapons in Cuba and reported them back home, under review by the United Nations and in exchange for a public statement from the US not to try to invade Cuba again. In secret, the United States would also have consented to dismantle all the PGM-19 missile deployed in Turkey and Italy.
When all the offensive missiles and Ilyushin Il-28 light bombers were withdrawn from Cuba, the blockade was formally concluded on November 21, 1962. The negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union highlighted the need for rapid, clear and direct confidential and dedicated communication line between Washington and Moscow. As a result, the so-called Moscow-Washington red line was built. A series of further agreements reduced tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union for several years.
