The Cold War refers to the period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Unlike traditional wars, the Cold War was characterized by ideological conflict, military competition, proxy wars, nuclear arms race, and political influence rather than direct military confrontation between the two primary antagonists. The term "cold" signifies the lack of direct large-scale fighting between the United States and the Soviet Union, although numerous proxy conflicts and indirect confrontations occurred globally. The primary ideological divide was between the capitalist, democratic, and market-oriented bloc led by the United States and the communist, authoritarian, and state-controlled economy bloc led by the Soviet Union.

The Cold War was marked by key events such as the Berlin Blockade, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the arms race, including the development of nuclear weapons. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union sought to expand their influence worldwide, with both sides attempting to gain allies in various parts of the world through military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact, economic aid programs like the Marshall Plan, and revolutionary movements.

The reasons for the end of the Cold War are multi-faceted and interconnected. One of the most significant factors was the changing leadership and policies within