Which country was the primary adversary of the United States during the Cold War?

During the Cold War, which lasted from the late 1940s until the early 1990s, the primary adversary of the United States was the Soviet Union. This period was marked by intense political, military, and ideological rivalry between the two superpowers. The U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a variety of conflicts, including the arms race, the space race, and several proxy wars where they supported opposing sides in countries like Korea and Vietnam. The ideological divide was also crucial, with the U.S. promoting capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union advocated for communism.

The Cold War was characterized by the absence of direct large-scale fighting between them, but both nations attempted to expand their influence around the world. The establishment of alliances, such as NATO by the U.S. and the Warsaw Pact by the Soviet Union, served to intensify the opposition. Consequently, recognizing the Soviet Union as the principal adversary during this era is essential to understanding the geopolitical dynamics of the time.