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In order to meet the common threat represented by the Soviet Union, the Western powers created the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949.
The term "cold war" implied the opposite of a "hot war" or "shooting war" and is applied to the period of global political and military competition after World War II between the US and the Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). It included strategic moves by each side and their allies, notably NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries and other Soviet client states. The period began in 1945 and ended with the breakup of the USSR in 1991, although it included more cooperation and less tension during the later years. Both the US and Russia maintain stockpiles of nuclear bombs and missiles built for "defensive" (deterrent) purposes during the Cold War. After World War II, the two countries emerged as the major powers (superpowers) of the world, each with its postwar sphere of influence. These two never fought directly, but engaged in several so-called proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam). The countries' military, strategic, economic, technological, and even moral relations and decisions were made with the opponent in mind. Each created its own group of friendly nations, and sought to lure countries to their side by aid. Beginning with Harry Truman, the US sought to "contain" communism, which represented potential allies for the Soviets (or, after 1948, for the Chinese). The most salient feature of the Cold War was a nuclear standoff, in which each side developed advanced weaponry, leading to the policy of MAD or Mutual Assured Destruction. Neither side could risk attacking the other because of the potential for obliteration of both sides by huge arsenals of thermonuclear bombs and missiles. A related aspect was espionage, beginning with the theft of atomic secrets by spies for the USSR. The CIA and KGB were known to use every conceivable means to obtain classified material from the other side and their allies.
NATO and Western Pact affected European nations by dividing Europe into two armed camps.
NATO
The Soviet leaders probably viewed the Marshall Plan and NATO as direct threats to Soviet security. Soviet leaders felt the United States was using its wealth to buy influence and power in Europe. They feared that strong, rebuilt Western European nations would be a threat to its satellite nations in Eastern Europe.
The Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact to use the occupied nations of Eastern Europe as a buffer zone against the US and western Europe.
NATO was a military alliance formed by nations of Weston Europe and North America to counter expansion
Among other things: part of Europe; part of the European Union; part of NATO; part of the World.
NATO my answer is: NATO [ europe ],SEATO [asia] n OAS [ Latin America]
Following the war, United States and nations of Western Europe formed the collective security arrangement NATO as a way of stopping the spread of communism.
NATO is the military alliance that was created to defend Western Europe from a possible Soviet attack.
That would be NATO. (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NATO