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While the Cold War itself never escalated into direct confrontation, there were a number of conflicts and revolutions related to the Cold War around the globe, spanning the entirety of the period usually prescribed to it (March 12, 1947 to December 26, 1991, a total of 44 years, 9 months, and 2 weeks).[ 1] [ 2]
Conflict
Start date
End date
Western Bloc related
Eastern Bloc related
Region
Result
Dekemvriana
December 3, 1944
January 11, 1945
Kingdom of Greece United Kingdom
EAM
Southern Europe
Western Bloc victory
Anti-Communist resistance in Poland
1944
1947 (1963)
Cursed soldiers
Polish People's Republic Soviet Union
Central Europe
Eastern Bloc victory
Insurgency in the Baltic States
1944
1953
Estonian partisans
Latvian partisans
Lithuanian partisans
Soviet Union
Northeastern Europe
Eastern Bloc victory
Indonesian National Revolution
August 17, 1945
December 27, 1949
Dutch East Indies United Kingdom
Indonesia Supported by: United States India Japan Soviet Union
Southeast Asia
Western Bloc victory
End of World War II
War in Vietnam (1945–46)
September 13, 1945
March 30, 1946
French Indochina United Kingdom
Japan
Viet Minh
Southeast Asia
Iran crisis of 1946
November 15, 1945
December 15, 1946
Iran
Azerbaijan People's Government Republic of Mahabad Tudeh Military Network Supported by: Soviet Union
Southern Asia
Greek Civil War
March 30, 1946
October 16, 1949
Kingdom of Greece United Kingdom United States
Communist Party of Greece Provisional Democratic Government
Southern Europe
Corfu Channel incident
May 15, 1946
November 13, 1946
United Kingdom
Albania
Southern Europe
Chinese Civil War (post-WWII )
March 31, 1946
May 1, 1950
Republic of China Kuomintang
Chinese Communist Party People's Republic of China (since 1949) Inner Mongolian People's Republic (1945–1945) Soviet Union
Eastern Asia
Communist Victory
Hukbalahap Rebellion
July 4, 1946
May 17, 1954
Philippines United States
Hukbalahap
Southeast Asia
Turkish Straits crisis
August 7, 1946
May 30, 1953
Turkey United States
Soviet Union
Southern Europe
First Indochina War
December 19, 1946
August 1, 1954
France State of Vietnam Kingdom of Laos Kingdom of Cambodia
Viet Minh Khmer Issarak Pathet Lao Japanese holdout Supported by: Soviet Union
China (since 1949)
Southeast Asia
Paraguayan Civil War
March 7, 1947
August 20, 1947
Paraguayan government Colorado Party
Liberal Party Febrerista Revolutionary Concentration Paraguayan Communist Party
South America
Romanian anti-communist resistance movement
1947
1962
Anti-communist groups
Romania
Central Europe
1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état
February 20, 1948
February 25, 1948
President
KSČ
Central Europe
Costa Rican Civil War
March 12, 1948
April 24, 1948
National Liberation Army
Ulatista Forces
Costa Rican government Calderon forces People's Vanguard Party Nicaraguan National Guard
Central America
Communist insurgency in Burma
April 2, 1948
April 16, 1989
Union of Burma
Communist Party of Burma (1948–1989) Communist Party (Burma) (1948–1978)Shan State Communist Party (1956–1958)
Southeast Asia
Jeju uprising
April 3, 1948
May, 1949
South Korea United States
Workers' Party of South Korea
Eastern Asia
First Arab–Israeli War
May 15, 1948
March 10, 1949
Israel Lebanese Front Army of Free Lebanon South Lebanon Army France United Kingdom United States
Palestine Lebanon Syria Sudan Egypt (before 1978) Iraq
Western Asia
Israeli Victory
Malayan Emergency
June 16, 1948
July 12, 1960
Federation of Malaya
Singapore United Kingdom Australia New Zealand
Malayan Communist Party
Southeast Asia
Berlin Blockade
June 24, 1948
May 12, 1949
United States United Kingdom France Canada Australia New Zealand South Africa
Soviet Union
Western Europe
Conflict
Start date
End date
Western Bloc related
Eastern Bloc related
Region
Result
Cazin Rebellion
May 5, 1950
May 6, 1950
Civilians led by Ale Čović and Milan Božić
Yugoslavia
Southeast Europe
Albanian–Yugoslav border conflict
1948
1954
Yugoslavia
Albania
Southeast Europe
Korean War
June 25, 1950
July 27, 1953
South Korea United Nations United States
North Korea China Soviet Union
Eastern Asia
Inconclusive
Egyptian Revolution of 1952
July 22, 1952
July 26, 1952
Kingdom of Egypt
Free Officers Movement
North Africa
Plzeň uprising of 1953
May 31, 1952
June 2, 1952
Demonstrators
Czechoslovakia
Central Europe
Uprising of 1953 in East Germany
June 16, 1953
June 17, 1953
Demonstrators
East Germany Soviet Union
Eastern Europe
Cuban Revolution
July 26, 1953
January 1, 1959
Cuban Government Supported by: United States
26th of July Movement Student Revolutionary Directorate Second National Front of Escambray Popular Socialist Party
Caribbean
1953 Iranian coup d'état
August 15, 1953
August 20, 1953
House of Pahlavi United States
United Kingdom
Government of Iran
Southern Asia
Laotian Civil War
November 9, 1953
December 2, 1975
Kingdom of Laos United States South Vietnam Thailand
Pathet Lao North Vietnam
Southeast Asia
1954 Guatemalan coup d'état
June 18, 1954
June 27, 1954
Guatemalan rebel exiles United States
Guatemalan Government
Central America
First Taiwan Strait Crisis
September 3, 1954
May 1, 1955
Republic of China United States
People's Republic of China
Eastern Asia
Algerian War
November 1, 1954
March 19, 1962
France
FAF OAS
FLN MNA PCA
North Africa
Calderonist Invasion on Costa Rica
January 7, 1955
February 21, 1955
Government of Costa Rica
Calderonist Forces Nicaragua Venezuela
Central America
1955 Argentine coup d'état “Liberating Revolution”
September 16, 1955
September 23, 1955
Government of Argentina
Argentine Armed Forces
South America
Vietnam War
November 1, 1955
April 30, 1975
South Vietnam United States South Korea Australia New Zealand Laos Cambodia Khmer Republic Thailand Philippines
North Vietnam
Viet Cong and PRG Pathet Lao Khmer Rouge China Soviet Union North Korea
Southeast Asia
Poznań 1956 protests
June 28, 1956
June 30, 1956
Protesters
Polish People’s Republic Soviet Union
Central Europe
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
October 23, 1956
November 10, 1956
Hungary
Hungarian People’s Republic (Kádár ) Soviet Union
Central Europe
Suez Crisis
October 29, 1956
November 7, 1956
Israel United Kingdom France
Egypt
North Africa
Ifni War
October 23, 1957
June 30, 1958
Spanish State France
Morocco
North Africa
First Albanian air force incident against US air force
December 23, 1957
December 23, 1957
United States
Albania
Southeast Europe
14 July Revolution
July 14, 1958
July 14, 1958
Arab Federation
Free Officers
Western Asia
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
August 23, 1958
October 6, 1958
Republic of China United States
People's Republic of China
Eastern Asia
1959 Mosul uprising
March 7, 1959
March 11, 1959
Arab nationalists
Supported by: Egypt
Iraqi Government
Western Asia
1959 Tibetan uprising
March 10, 1959
March 21, 1959
Tibetan and Khampa protesters and militants Chushi Gangdruk
People's Republic of China
Central Asia
Conflict
Start date
End date
Western Bloc related
Eastern Bloc related
Region
The attack on the Soviet naval presence
1961
1968
Albania
Soviet Union Supported by: Warsaw Pact : Bulgaria Czechoslovakia East Germany Hungary Poland
Southeast Europe
1960 U-2 incident
May 1, 1960
May 1, 1960
United States
Soviet Union
Eastern Europe
Congo Crisis
June 30, 1960
November 25, 1965
1960–63:
Katanga South Kasai
Supported by:
Belgium France South Africa
September 1960–63:
Republic of the Congo
Supported by:
ONUC
1963–65:
Democratic Republic of the Congo United States Belgium
Supported by:
ONUC
July–September 1960:
Republic of the Congo
Supported by:
Soviet Union ONUC
December 1960–62:
Free Republic of the Congo
Supported by:
Soviet Union
1963–65:
Kwilu and Simba rebels
Supported by:
Soviet Union China Cuba
Central Africa
Political Crisis in Ecuador
September 1, 1960
August 10, 1979
Government of Ecuador
Protesters and Militaries
South America
Guatemalan Civil War
November 13, 1960
December 19, 1996
Government of Guatemala Mano Blanca United States
PGT FAR URNG
Central America
Portuguese Colonial War
February 4, 1961
April 25, 1974
Portugal
MPLA FNLA UNITA FLEC PAIGC FRELIMO
Western /Southern Africa
Angolan War of Independence
February 4, 1961
January 15, 1975
Portugal South Africa
MPLA FNLA UNITA FLEC RDL
Southern Africa
Bay of Pigs Invasion
April 17, 1961
April 19, 1961
United States Cuban DRF
Cuba
Caribbean
Berlin Crisis of 1961
June 4, 1961
November 9, 1961
West Germany United States United Kingdom France
East Germany Soviet Union
Western Europe
Nicaraguan Revolution
July 23, 1961
April 25, 1990
Somoza regime Contras United States
FSLN Panama (1978–1979)
Central America
Eritrean War of Independence
September 1, 1961
May 29, 1991
Before 1974: Ethiopian Empire
After 1974: ELF
EPLF TPLF
Before 1974: ELF
EPLF
After 1974: PDR Ethiopia Soviet Union Cuba
Eastern Africa
Operation Trikora
December 19, 1961
August 15, 1962
Netherlands Dutch New Guinea
Indonesia Soviet Union
Southeast Asia
North Yemen Civil War
September 26, 1962
December 1, 1970
Kingdom of Yemen Saudi Arabia Supported by: Jordan (until 1963) United Kingdom Israel (alleged) Iran Pakistan
Yemen Arab Republic Egypt Supported by: Soviet Union
Western Asia
Cuban Missile Crisis
October 14, 1962
October 28, 1962
United States Italy Turkey
Soviet Union Cuba
Caribbean
Sino-Indian War
October 20, 1962
November 21, 1962
China
India
Southern Asia
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
January 20, 1963
August 11, 1966
Malaysia Singapore United Kingdom Brunei Australia New Zealand
Indonesia North Kalimantan Communist Party Brunei People's Party
Southeast Asia
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
January 23, 1963
September 11, 1974
Portugal
PAIGC Guinea (1970 only) Cuba
Western Africa
Ar-Rashid revolt
July 3, 1963
July 3, 1963
Iraqi Republic
Iraqi Army Iraqi Communist Party
Western Asia
1964 Brazilian coup d'état
March 31, 1964
April 1, 1964
Brazilian Armed Forces
Supported by:
United States
Fourth Brazilian Republic
South America
Rhodesian Bush War
March 31, 1964
December 12, 1979
Southern Rhodesia (1964–1965) Rhodesia (1965–1979) Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979) South Africa
ZANU (ZANLA ) FRELIMO
ZAPU (ZIPRA ) ANC (MK )
Southern Africa
Mexican Dirty War
December 1, 1964
December 1, 1982
Mexico
Supported by:
United States
Left-wing groups
North America
Mozambican War of Independence
September 25, 1964
September 8, 1974
Portugal
FRELIMO
Eastern Africa
Colombian conflict
May 27, 1964
Present
Colombia
Far-Left Guerrillas FARC ELN EPL M-19 MOEC MAQL
AUC
Medellín Cartel
South America
Communist insurgency in Thailand
January 1, 1965
April 26, 1983
Thailand Republic of China (until 1967) Malaysia United States
Communist Party of Thailand Pathet Lao Khmer Rouge (until 1978) Malayan Communist Party
Southeast Asia
Dominican Civil War
April 24, 1965
September 3, 1965
Dominican Republic (Loyalist military government) United States IAPF
Dominican Republic (Constitutionalist)
Caribbean
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
August 15, 1965
September 23, 1965
Pakistan
India
India Indian subcontinent
30 September Movement
September 30, 1965
October 1, 1965
Suharto -backed Armed Forces
Supported by:
United States
Sukarno government
Communist Party of Indonesia China
Southeast Asia
Indonesian killings of 1965–66
October 1, 1965
March 1966
Indonesia
PKI Gerwani Abangan atheists and Kafir ethnic Chinese
Southeast Asia
Cultural Revolution
May 16, 1966
October 6, 1976
Liu Shaoqi government
Mao Zedong government Red Guards
Eastern Asia
South African Border War
August 26, 1966
March 21, 1990
South Africa
Portugal (until 1975) UNITA (from 1975) FNLA
SWAPO (PLAN ) MPLA (FAPLA ) Cuba SWANU ANC (MK ) Zambia
Southern Africa
Bolivian Campaign
November 3, 1966
October 9, 1967
Bolivia United States
National Liberation Army of Bolivia
South America
Araguaia Guerrilla War
1966
1975
Brazil
Communist Party of Brazil
South America
Cambodian Civil War
March 11, 1967
April 17, 1975
Kingdom of Cambodia (1968–1970) Khmer Republic (1970–1975) United States South Vietnam
Khmer Rouge GRUNK (1970–1975) FUNK Khmer Rumdo North Vietnam Viet Cong
Southeast Asia
Six-Day War
June 5, 1967
June 10, 1967
Israel
Egypt Syria Jordan Iraq Saudi Arabia
Western Asia
Nigerian Civil War
July 5, 1967
January 13, 1970 [ 3]
Nigeria
Biafra
West Africa
War of Attrition
July 1, 1967
August 7, 1970
Israel
Egypt Soviet Union PLO Jordan Syria Cuba Kuwait
Western Asia
Communist Insurgency in Malaysia
June 17, 1968
December 2, 1989
Malaysia Singapore Thailand
Malayan Communist Party North Kalimantan Communist Party Communist Party of Thailand (until 1983)
Southeast Asia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
August 20, 1968
August 21, 1968
Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact :
Eastern Europe
Sino-Soviet border conflict
March 2, 1969
September 11, 1969
China
Soviet Union
Eastern Asia
1969 Sudanese coup d'état
May 25, 1969
May 25, 1969
Sudan
SAF Free Officers Movement
North Africa
Football War
July 14, 1969
July 18, 1969
El Salvador
Honduras
Central America
1969 Libyan coup d'état
September 1, 1969
September 1, 1969
Kingdom of Libya
Cyrenaican Defence Force
Free Officers Movement
North Africa
1969 Somali coup d'état
October 21, 1969
October 21, 1969
Somali Republic
Supreme Revolutionary Council
Eastern Africa
Conflict
Start date
End date
Western Bloc related
Eastern Bloc related
Region
Black September in Jordan
September 1, 1970
July 1971
Jordan Pakistan
PLO Syria Iranian guerillas:
Western Asia
First Quarter Storm
January 1970
March 1970
Government of Philippines
Moderate Opposition
Communist Party of the Philippines Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930
Southeast Asia
Bangladesh Liberation War
March 26, 1971
December 16, 1971
Pakistan Supported by: United States United Kingdom France China Jordan Iran Saudi Arabia Ceylon Libya
Provisional Government of Bangladesh India Supported by: Soviet Union
South Asia
1971 JVP insurrection
April 5, 1971
June 1971
Ceylon
Sri Lankan Coalition (from May 15 )
JVP
South Asia
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
December 3, 1971
December 16, 1971
Pakistan Supported by: United States United Kingdom China Jordan Iran Saudi Arabia Ceylon Libya
Provisional Government of Bangladesh India Supported by: Soviet Union Israel
South Asia
1970s operation in Balochistan
February 1973
December 1978
Pakistan
Supported by: Iran United States
Baloch separatists Supported by: Republic of Afghanistan India Iraq Soviet Union (from 1974)
South Asia
1973 Uruguayan coup d'état
June 27, 1973
June 28, 1973
Uruguayan Civic-military regime
General Assembly of Uruguay
South America
1973 Chilean coup d'état
September 11, 1973
September 11, 1973
Chilean Armed Forces
Supported by: United States
Chilean Government
MIR
South America
Armed resistance in Chile (1973–90)
September 11, 1973
March 11, 1990
Military dictatorship of Chile
United States
Guerrillas :
South America
Yom Kippur War
October 6, 1973
October 25, 1973
Israel Supported by: United States
Egypt Syria Expeditionary forces : Saudi Arabia Algeria Jordan Sudan Iraq Libya Kuwait Tunisia Morocco Cuba Supported by: Soviet Union East Germany North Korea Pakistan Lebanon
Western Asia
Carnation Revolution
April 24, 1974
April 25, 1974
Portuguese New State regime (isolacionist, mostly unsupported)
Rebeling portuguese Armed Forces Movement (a catch-all movement, including communists)
Western Europe
Ongoing Revolutionary Process
April 25, 1974
November 25, 1975
National Salvation Junta
(After the failed March 11, 1975 coup by Spínola , reformed into:)
Revolutionary Council 's moderates
Communist armed forces revolutionaries , mostly led by Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho & Vasco Gonçalves .
Western Europe
Ethiopian Civil War
November 28, 1974
May 21, 1991
EPRDF
EPRP MEISON (from 1977) EDU OLF WSLF ALF ONLF Eritrean separatists:
Supported by: Libya Somalia Syria Iraq Saudi Arabia
Derg (1974–1987) PDR Ethiopia (1987–1991)MEISON (until 1977)Supported by: Soviet Union (1974–1990) Cuba (1974–1990) South Yemen (1974–1990) North Korea Israel (from 1990)
Eastern Africa
Operation Independence
February 5, 1975
September 28, 1977
Argentina
ERP Montoneros
South America
Lebanese Civil War
April 13, 1975
October 13, 1990
Israel Lebanese Front Army of Free Lebanon South Lebanon Army Tigers Militia
Lebanese Armed Forces UNIFIL
Lebanese National Movement Jammoul Lebanese Communist Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon PLO
Syria (1976, 1983–1991) Amal Movement PNSF Arab Deterrent Force
Near East
Angolan Civil War
November 11, 1975
April 4, 2002
UNITA FNLA South Africa Zaire
FLEC
MPLA Cuba Brazil SWAPO ANC Executive Outcomes FLNC Namibia
Southern Africa
Indonesian invasion of East Timor
December 7, 1975
July 17, 1976
Indonesia
East Timor
Southeast Asia
Operation Entebbe
July 4, 1976
July 4, 1976
Israel Supported by: Kenya
PFLP-EO Revolutionary Cells Uganda
Western Africa
1976 Argentine coup d'état
March 24, 1976
March 24, 1976
Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic
Supported by:
United States
Government of Argentina
South America
Islamist uprising in Syria
May 31, 1976
February 28, 1982
Muslim Brotherhood Pro-Iraqi Ba'athists Supported by: Iraq (1980–1982) West Germany Jordan
Syrian government
Supported by: Soviet Union
Western Asia
Insurgency in Aceh
December 4, 1976
August 15, 2005
Indonesia Supported by: United States
Free Aceh Movement Supported by: Libya
Southeast Asia
Shaba I
March 8, 1977
May 26, 1977
Zaire Morocco Egypt France Belgium
Front for the National Liberation of the Congo
Central Africa
Mozambican Civil War
May 30, 1977
October 15, 1992
RENAMO PRM (merged with RENAMO in 1982) FUMO Rhodesia South Africa
Mozambique (People's Republic until 1990)
ZANU Zimbabwe Tanzania Malawi
Southern Africa
1977 Seychelles coup d'état
June 4, 1977
June 5, 1977
SDP Government
SPUP Insurgents
East Africa
Operation Fair Play
July 5, 1977
July 5, 1977
Pakistan Army
Government
South Asia
Ogaden War
July 13, 1977
March 15, 1978
Somalia WSLF
Ethiopia Cuba Soviet Union South Yemen
Eastern Africa
Egyptian–Libyan War
July 21, 1977
July 24, 1977
Egypt
Libya
North Africa
Shaba II
May 11, 1978
June 1978
Zaire France Belgium Morocco United States
Front for the National Liberation of the Congo
Central Africa
Korean Air Lines Flight 902
April 20, 1978
April 20, 1978
South Korea
Soviet Union
Northern Europe
Uganda-Tanzania War
October 9, 1978
June 3, 1979
Uganda
Tanzania
Eastern Africa
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
December 21, 1978
September 26, 1989
Democratic Kampuchea CGDK/NGC (1982–1990)
China Thailand
Vietnam FUNSK People's Republic of Kampuchea State of Cambodia
Southeast Asia
Iranian Revolution
January 16, 1979
February 1979
Imperial State of Iran
Revolution Council Interim Government
Southern Asia
Sino-Vietnamese War
February 17, 1979
March 16, 1979
China
Vietnam Supported by: Soviet Union
Southeast Asia
Salvadoran Civil War
May 9, 1979
January 16, 1992
Salvadoran government United States
FMLN (CRM )
Central America
Soviet–Afghan War
December 24, 1979
February 15, 1989
Sunni Mujahideen Supported by: Pakistan Saudi Arabia United States United Kingdom China West Germany Egypt Israel
Shia Mujahideen Supported by: Iran
Marxist-Leninist-Maoist rebels
Soviet Union Afghanistan East Germany
Central Asia
Conflict
Start date
End date
Western Bloc related
Eastern Bloc related
Region
Internal conflict in Peru
May 17, 1980
1999/Present
Peru
Shining Path Militarized Communist Party of Peru Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
South America
Gwangju Uprising
May 18, 1980
May 27, 1980
South Korea
Demonstrators
Eastern Asia
Iran–Iraq War
September 22, 1980
August 20, 1988
Iraq
Iran
Persian Gulf
Somali Civil War (first phase)
1981/1988
January 27, 1991
USC SNM SSDF SPM
Somali Democratic Republic
Eastern Africa
Falklands War
April 2, 1982
June 14, 1982
United Kingdom
Argentina
South America
1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
June 23, 1982
August 3, 1982
Somalia
Ethiopia SSDF
Eastern Africa
Korean Air Lines Flight 007
September 1, 1983
September 1, 1983
South Korea
Soviet Union
Eastern Asia
Invasion of Grenada
October 25, 1983
December 15, 1983
United States Caribbean Peace Force
Grenada
Caribbean
People Power Revolution
February 22, 1986
February 25, 1986
Government
Opposition
Southeast Asia
1986 United States bombing of Libya
April 15, 1986
April 15, 1986
United States
Libya
North Africa
1987–1989 JVP insurrection
April 15, 1987
December 29, 1989
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
South Asia
Brașov rebellion
November 15, 1987
November 15, 1987
Worker rebellion
Romania
Central Europe
8888 Uprising
March 12, 1988
September 21, 1988
Pro-democracy Opposition
Government
Southeast Asia
Afghan Civil War
February 15, 1989
April 27, 1992
Mujahideen Supported by: Pakistan
United States Saudi Arabia Iran United Kingdom
Afghanistan
Central Asia
Revolutions of 1989
March 9, 1989
April 27, 1992
Democratic Movement
Eastern Bloc and Dictatorship
Central /Eastern Europe
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
April 15, 1989
June 4, 1989
Beijing Students' Autonomous Federation Beijing Workers' Autonomous Federation Pro-democracy protesters Other opposition
Government of China
Eastern Asia
Velvet Revolution
November 17, 1989
December 29, 1989
Opposition
Government
Central Europe
Mongolian Revolution of 1990
December 10, 1989
March 9, 1990
Protesters
Mongolian People's Republic
Central Asia
United States invasion of Panama
December 20, 1989
January 31, 1990
United States Panamanian opposition
Panama
Central America
Romanian Revolution
December 16, 1989
December 25, 1989
Revolutionaries
Government
Central Europe
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s Frozen conflicts Foreign policy Ideologies
Organizations Propaganda
Technological competition Historians Espionage and intelligence See also