Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis was Nikita Khrushchev. This pivotal event occurred in October 1962 when the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, just 90 miles from its shores. Khrushchev was in power and played a crucial role in the crisis by allowing these missiles to be placed in Cuba, aiming to bolster the Soviet position against the U.S. and protect Cuba from American aggression.

During this period, Khrushchev's leadership was marked by a combination of aggression and diplomacy. The standoff between the U.S. and the USSR brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, and it was Khrushchev’s subsequent decision to withdraw the missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba that ultimately de-escalated the situation. This incident was a defining moment in the Cold War, showcasing Khrushchev’s strategies and the complex dynamics of international relations at the time.

The other figures listed did not lead the Soviet Union during this critical period. Leonid Brezhnev succeeded Khrushchev later and focused more on detente and stability. Joseph Stalin passed away in 1953, long before the crisis, and Mikhail G