How did the Cold War influence U.S. foreign policy?

The Cold War significantly influenced U.S. foreign policy by pushing the country towards a military-focused interventionist stance. During this period, the U.S. aimed to contain the spread of communism and counter the influence of the Soviet Union globally. This led to various interventions, both military and through support of regimes aligned with U.S. interests, in different regions such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The strategic approach involved forming alliances (like NATO) and participating actively in conflicts viewed as critical to preventing the expansion of communism, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

This interventionist policy was characterized by a willingness to engage militarily and politically to support governments and movements that aligned with U.S. interests or were viewed as bulwarks against communism. The geopolitical context of the Cold War necessitated a focus on military readiness and strategic containment rather than isolationism, leading to an expansive presence of U.S. forces around the globe. In essence, the Cold War era symbolized a departure from previous isolationist tendencies and showcased a time when U.S. foreign policy was driven by the need to respond to perceived existential threats from competing ideologies.