During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union engaged in a series of proxy wars around the world as they sought to spread their respective ideologies. One of the earliest proxy wars was fought in Korea between 1950-1953, when North Korea (backed by the Soviet Union and China) invaded South Korea (supported by the U.S. and United Nations). The war ended in a stalemate and left Korea divided into two separate countries.
Another significant proxy war was fought in Vietnam from 1955-1975. The U.S. supported South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam, which had support from the Soviet Union and China. The conflict resulted in over 1 million deaths and ended with a communist victory.
Other notable proxy wars during the Cold War included conflicts in Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. These wars were marked by covert operations, political maneuvering, and intense propaganda campaigns as each side sought to gain an advantage over the other without engaging in direct warfare.
