The term "Cold War" refers to a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, their allies, and satellite states from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s. The phrase was coined by historian and diplomat George F. Kennan in 1947 to describe the state of political conflict between the two superpowers that did not involve direct military action, but rather took place through proxies, propaganda, espionage, and economic rivalry.
The Cold War was characterized by a series of crises, including the Berlin Blockade (1948-1949), the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and the Vietnam War (1955-1975). It was also marked by proxy wars in regions such as Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The end of the Cold War is generally considered to have occurred with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, followed by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The period since then has been characterized by efforts to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles, promote democracy and human rights, and address global challenges such as climate change and terrorism.