During the Cold War, what was the primary concern of the United States?

The primary concern of the United States during the Cold War was communism, which dominated the geopolitical landscape from the end of World War II until the early 1990s. The U.S. viewed communism, particularly as championed by the Soviet Union, as a direct threat to democratic values and capitalism. This ideological conflict led to various policies aimed at containing the spread of communism globally, reflected in strategies such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, which were designed to support nations resisting communist influence.

The fear of communism also justified numerous U.S. actions, including the involvement in wars such as those in Korea and Vietnam, as well as the establishment of military alliances like NATO. The competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union fostered a climate of suspicion and rivalry that characterized international relations during this period, leading to proxy wars and a nuclear arms race. The overarching concern was not just the existence of communist governments, but the potential expansion of their influence, which was perceived as a threat to freedom and democracy worldwide.