The U2 incident of 1960 involved an invasion of Cuba backed by the C.I.A. a Soviet spy ring in Washington D.C. an American ejection of Soviet diplomatic personnel. U.S. spy plane that was shot down over Soviet territory.

The U2 incident of 1960 marked a significant escalation in Cold War tensions, as an American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down over Soviet airspace. This event occurred just weeks before a major summit between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, severely undermining diplomatic relations. The U.S. initially denied the plane's purpose, claiming it was a weather research aircraft, but the capture of Powers and the recovery of surveilled materials forced the truth into the open. The fallout from the incident prompted a sharp increase in mistrust between the two superpowers. It also led to the development of more sophisticated spying technology and methods, including satellites, as both sides sought to gain the upper hand without risking manned missions. The event remains a focal point in discussions about intelligence and international relations during the Cold War era.