Moments Of Military Restraint

Leaders exchanged hard stares, armies were prepared, and warships took their positions. The world has come terrifyingly close to global war, beyond World War I & II. But each time, something pulled us back from the edge and changed the course of history. Are you wondering which near-wars we're talking about? Here are 20 of the most significant moments that almost exploded into wide-scale global conflict—and what stopped them just in time.

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1. The Cuban Missile Crisis

The U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles sitting close to its shores in Cuba in October 1962. President Kennedy, in response, ordered a naval blockade, triggering thirteen tense days of quiet talks. The held negotiations led to both sides stepping back, narrowly averting nuclear war and global disaster. 

US Government, Unknown photographer on Wikimedia

2. The Fashoda Incident

In 1898, British and French forces clashed at Fashoda, Sudan, during their scramble for colonial dominance. The tense standoff only eased when France withdrew peacefully, avoiding war. This resolution later helped improve diplomatic ties and marked a key turning point in European colonial rivalry.

Unknown, 1898 on Wikimedia

3. The Berlin Crisis

The Soviet Union blocked West Berlin in 1948 to force Western withdrawal. The US and UK flew in supplies daily to keep the city running. This firm response avoided war and became a powerful symbol of early Cold War resolve.

U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wikimedia

4. The Suez Crisis

In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt to regain the Suez Canal. Global pressure, led by the US and the Soviet Union, forced a retreat. The event marked a shift from colonial control to the influence of superpower politics in the Middle East.

2130991likithgunadala unknown on Wikimedia

5. The Able Archer 83 Scare

A 1983 NATO drill made the Soviets believe a nuclear strike was coming. They prepared to launch before the situation was calmed by diplomacy. The scare showed how misread intentions during tense times could have sparked a devastating Cold War disaster.

ChrisO at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia

6. The 1986 - 1987 Brasstacks Standoff

India’s large-scale military exercise near the Pakistan border triggered fears of a surprise attack. Pakistan responded with defensive deployments and nuclear warnings. Misunderstandings on both sides pushed the crisis dangerously close to war until diplomacy and backchannel talks brought tensions under control.

Operation Brasstacks: India’s 1986 Military Drills in Rajasthan That Terrified Pakistan by Asianet News English

7. The Sino-Soviet Border Conflict

Chinese and Soviet forces clashed in 1969 near the Ussuri River. Both sides prepared for nuclear war but backed off after talks. The crisis showed how even allies-turned-rivals can stumble toward disaster over a remote, disputed frontier.

China Photo Service on Wikimedia

8. The 2007 Israeli Airstrike On Syria

In September 2007, Israel carried out an airstrike on a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor region. Syria gave little public response and took no military action, which helped keep the situation from escalating into a more destructive conflict in the area.

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia

9. The 1914 July Crisis Misstep

After Franz Ferdinand’s assassination, Europe failed to calm rising tensions. Diplomats stumbled, and alliances tightened. Although the war did not begin immediately, the delay was short. The crisis revealed the fragility of peace before World War I engulfed the continent.

Achille Beltrame on Wikimedia

10. The 1973 Yom Kippur War Escalation

Egypt’s surprise attack on Israel drew Soviet support and caught the attention of the United States. As pressure rose, the US considered action, and a UN ceasefire ended the war before it spread. The moment nearly turned a regional fight into a global showdown.

IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer on Wikimedia

11. The 1954–55 Taiwan Strait Crisis

China attacked Taiwan-held islands as tensions rose over growing US support. The United States responded with a defense pact and debated military action. Diplomatic talks followed, easing the standoff, which became a pivotal moment in shaping the dynamics of the Cold War in Asia.

National Archives 80-G-657548 on Wikimedia

12. The 1999 Kargil Conflict De-escalation

Pakistan crossed into Indian territory in Kargil, sparking fierce fighting. Fears of nuclear escalation grew, with the US pressuring Pakistan to pull back. This standoff highlighted the persistent dangers of misunderstandings between nuclear neighbors embroiled in a long and bitter rivalry.

PROBSFDelhi on Wikimedia

13. The 1980 Persian Gulf Scare

Iraq invaded Iran in 1980 and threatened Gulf oil routes. World powers watched closely but decided to remain quiet. The war proved to be extremely devastating for both parties, but remained regional and avoided broader conflict with global powers. Still, it marked a warning of how Gulf tensions could easily escalate and eventually cause broader ramifications for the rest of the world. 

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia

14. The 1967 Six-Day War Trigger

Israel launched a surprise strike against Egypt, triggering a swift war that nearly involved the Soviet Union. The outcome of this 1967 conflict redrew borders and shifted alliances, becoming a pivotal moment in shaping modern Middle East power dynamics.

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia

15. The 1991 Gulf War Near-Expansion

After Iraq invaded Kuwait, concerns grew that Saddam would expand the war beyond the region. The US-led coalition responded swiftly, keeping its mission focused on Kuwait’s liberation. That restraint and clarity of purpose helped contain the conflict and avoid a much larger confrontation.  

TSgt. Rose Reynolds, USAF on Wikimedia

16. The 2001 India-Pakistan Standoff

India and Pakistan moved troops to the border after the 2001 attack on India’s parliament, raising the specter of nuclear conflict. Steady global pressure, however, eased the crisis—yet the swift cycle of retaliation and mediation exposed just how easily the region’s darkest shadow can return.

Mehak wajid ali on Wikimedia

17. The 2017 Doklam Standoff

Indian and Chinese troops clashed over a road in Doklam in 2017, nearly triggering a larger conflict. Diplomatic talks that followed led to a pullback, but tensions lingered as the Himalayan border remained a sensitive and unresolved hotspot.

India-China standoff in Doklam by CaspianReport

18. The 1976 Korean Axe Murder Incident

Two US officers were killed by North Korean troops while cutting a poplar tree that was blocking the view of UN observers in the DMZ. The US responded with Operation Paul Bunyan, a massive show of force that restored control and prevented further escalation.

UNC - CFC - USFK from Seoul, Republic of Korea on Wikimedia

19.  The 1999 Kosovo War Limit

After NATO’s bombing campaign ended, Russian troops entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999, and took control of Pristina airport ahead of NATO forces. The move raised fears of a NATO–Russia clash, but swift diplomacy calmed down the standoff and preserved fragile post–Cold War stability.

Filius humanitas on Wikimedia

20. The 2023 Taiwan Strait Tension

In 2023, China raised tensions sharply when it conducted a series of military exercises near Taiwan, following a visit from US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Global diplomacy soon stepped in, preventing further escalation—but the balance around Taiwan remained delicate, with high stakes still looming.

Japanese Ministry of Defense, Joint Staff on Wikimedia