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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
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 governmentCalderon 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
Arab–Israeli conflict (from 1948 to 1991)May 15, 1948 1982/Present
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
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
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
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 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 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 rebelsSupported by: Soviet Union China Cuba
Central Africa
Political Crisis in Ecuador September 1, 1960 August 10, 1979 Government of Ecuador
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 Rhodesia Zimbabwe Rhodesia 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
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 relatedRegion
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
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
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 Government of Portugal
Portuguese Rebels
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 PDR Ethiopia 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 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 relatedRegion
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 Government of China
Eastern Asia
Velvet Revolution November 17, 1989 December 29, 1989 Government
Central Europe
Mongolian Revolution of 1990 December 10, 1989 March 9, 1990 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 Historians Espionage and See also
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United Kingdom
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Slovenia
Croatia
Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
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