countries that saw proxy wars of cold war
During the Cold War, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, many countries around the world were the sites of proxy wars. These conflicts were "proxy" in the sense that the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies, supported opposing sides, but did not engage directly in open warfare against each other. Instead, they supplied arms, funding, and sometimes military advisors to their allies or ideological partners. Some of the most significant proxy wars and their main theater countries include:
1. Korean War (1950-1953) - The conflict on the Korean peninsula pitted North Korea (backed by China and the USSR) against South Korea (backed by UN forces predominantly from the USA).
2. Vietnam War (1955-1975) - South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies, fought against the communist North Vietnam, which was supported by the Soviet Union and China.
3. Cuban Revolution (1953-1959) - Although not a traditional proxy war, the Cuban Revolution culminated in a significant Cold War confrontation when Fidel Castro's government aligned with the Soviet Union after the revolution.
4. Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) - The United States supported a failed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro forces in an attempt to overthrow the communist government.
5. The Congo Crisis (1960-1965) - After the decolonization of the Belgian Congo, different factions fought for power, supported by the US and the Soviet Union.
6. Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) - After Angola gained independence from Portugal, the US and South Africa supported the anti-communist factions, while Cuba and the Soviet Union backed the Marxist-Leninist MPLA.
7. Ethiopian Civil War (1974-1991) - The Soviet Union and Cuba supported the Ethiopian government against various rebel groups, which at times received support from the United States.
8. Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) - The United States, along with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, supported the Mujahideen fighters against the Soviet-backed Afghan government.
9. Nicaraguan Contras (1980s) - The United States supported the Contras in their fight against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, which had Soviet and Cuban backing.
10. Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992) - The US-backed Salvadoran government fought against the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a coalition of left-wing guerrilla groups.
These are just a few examples of the many conflicts influenced by the global power struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Proxy wars like these have had lasting impacts on the countries involved, and often the effects of these conflicts are felt even today.