Proxy wars in Nicaragua and Angola
A proxy war is one supported by major powers which don鈥檛 themselves engage in combat.
The main battlegrounds of the Cold War were in Europe and the Far East, as both the USA and USSRUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics - collection of states, also known as the Soviet Union. engaged in proxy wars and international conflicts to support their political ideologyA set of ideas or thoughts that someone, or a group of people, believe in. The plural of this is 'ideologies'.. Two examples were the internal struggles between right-wing and left-wing factions in Nicaragua and Angola during the 1970s.
Nicaragua
The USA had supported the ruling Somoza family in Nicaragua since the 1930s, when US marines had been sent to stabilise the nation against the threat of a communist takeover.
In 1979 the pro-communist Sandanista rebels overthrew the last Somoza ruler and set up a government.
The US response at first was for President Carter to give financial aid to the new Sandanista government to try to stop it falling under the influence of the USSR or Cuba. When Ronald Reagan succeeded Carter as US President in 1981, he stopped aid to the Sandanistas, who then turned to communist Cuba for support. Reagan began to support an anti-communist rebel group 鈥 the Contras - with money, arms and military training. When, in 1984, the US Congress refused to approve further cash to support the Contras, a deal was struck by US Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North to sell arms to Iran and use some of the money raised to fund the Contras.
Angola
During the 1970s and 1980s, both the USA and the USSR got involved in the Civil War in Angola, keen to control the country鈥檚 diamond and oil reserves.
Each superpowerCountries who have huge influence or strength, giving them significant global power. backed the side closest to their political ideology:
- the USSR backed the socialist independence movement, the MPLA (People鈥檚 Movement for the Liberation of Angola)
- the USA backed the anti-communist FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola) and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola)
In 1976 the MPLA won the upper hand and set up the People鈥檚 Republic of Angola, signing a friendship deal with the USSR. The USA continued to support the UNITA rebels with aid and smuggled weapons into Angola via South Africa.