The cuban missile crisis was a highpoint of what came to be known as the Cold War : a series of confrontation and competition between the then superpowers – USA and USSR. It was more of an ideological war.

1. In April 1961, the leaders of ussr were worried that USA would invade the communist ruled Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro, the president of the island nation.
2. Cuba was an ally of the USSR and received aid from it.
3. In 1962, Nikita Khrushchev decided to convert Cuba into Russian base and placed nuclear missiles into it.
4. This came out to be threat to American soverignty.
5. After three weeks, Americans became aware of it and John F Kennedy, the president was reluctant to do anything that might lead to a full scale war.
6. Kennedy ordered American warships to intercept any ships heading from soviet union, as a warning of their seriousness.

This was the peak of the ongoing coldwar

Effects on US foreign policy

1. Maintenance of U.S. global dominance, often referred to as U.S. global hegemony
2. Pursuit of free trade and development of international economic institutions, such as the World Trade Organization
3. Encouraging the spread of democracy and peace
4. Use of military troops and equipment to support humanitarian missions, such as providing aid and support to victims of natural disasters
5. Punishing and isolating rogue states, like North Korea and Iran, who are perceived to be violating international law and threaten international peace and stability.

Hence, Cold War left an imprint on international world politics and changing power balances and resulted in initiation of USA hegemony in its near future.