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Question
Describe the proxy wars.
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Solution
Instructions: Define proxy war, followed by the influence of USA and USSR in these wars.
Solution:
A proxy war refers to a war initiated by a major power that does not itself become involved. This means powerful countries like the US and the Soviet Union, in our context, sponsoring other countries to wage war for their own economic and political gain.
USA’s interference in these wars:
US President Harry Truman authorised the support for the anti-communist force in Greece and Turkey.
In Africa, the nation of Congo gained independence in 1960, but due to the inclination of their radical leader, Patrice Lumumba, toward communism resulted in his assassination by the US spy Agency CIA.
Angola became a communist state after it became independent from Portugal in 1975 after gaining support from the USSR and Cuba.
Cuba was overseeing a revolution against the American-backed government there led by Fidel Castro, who wanted to build socialism along the lines of the USSR. Another eminent leader Che Guevera was killed in the conflict with the USA.
In numerous Latin American countries, people started to fight for similar transformations in their countries, which the USA tried to destroy. One of the examples is Chile, where the Socialist Government led by S Allende was toppled by US-backed army generals.
USSR’s interference in proxy wars
In the 1950s, the USSR faced resistance in many European countries, like Germany, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. So it sent armies to dismiss these unfriendly governments and installed friendly governments there.
Following the 1960s, China, a communist state, decided to disassociate itself from the USSR. As a result, it tried unsuccessfully to pressure China.
Again in 1971, USSR invaded Afghanistan and installed a friendly government there. The US countered this by providing military assistance to the Afghan rebels, who were religious extremists. A prolonged civil war happened, and in the end, the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan in 1985, leaving it in the hands of religious extremists led by the Taliban.
Solution:
A proxy war refers to a war initiated by a major power that does not itself become involved. This means powerful countries like the US and the Soviet Union, in our context, sponsoring other countries to wage war for their own economic and political gain.
USA’s interference in these wars:
US President Harry Truman authorised the support for the anti-communist force in Greece and Turkey.
In Africa, the nation of Congo gained independence in 1960, but due to the inclination of their radical leader, Patrice Lumumba, toward communism resulted in his assassination by the US spy Agency CIA.
Angola became a communist state after it became independent from Portugal in 1975 after gaining support from the USSR and Cuba.
Cuba was overseeing a revolution against the American-backed government there led by Fidel Castro, who wanted to build socialism along the lines of the USSR. Another eminent leader Che Guevera was killed in the conflict with the USA.
In numerous Latin American countries, people started to fight for similar transformations in their countries, which the USA tried to destroy. One of the examples is Chile, where the Socialist Government led by S Allende was toppled by US-backed army generals.
USSR’s interference in proxy wars
In the 1950s, the USSR faced resistance in many European countries, like Germany, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. So it sent armies to dismiss these unfriendly governments and installed friendly governments there.
Following the 1960s, China, a communist state, decided to disassociate itself from the USSR. As a result, it tried unsuccessfully to pressure China.
Again in 1971, USSR invaded Afghanistan and installed a friendly government there. The US countered this by providing military assistance to the Afghan rebels, who were religious extremists. A prolonged civil war happened, and in the end, the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan in 1985, leaving it in the hands of religious extremists led by the Taliban.
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