imperialism, Soviet

From 1945, policy of the USSR to control and influence countries outside Soviet territory during the Cold War 1945–89, allegedly to promote the spread of communist ideology throughout the world. Following World War II, former independent countries in Eastern Europe came under Soviet control and other parts of the world were drawn into the USSR's sphere of influence. The USSR claimed that it was extending friendship to nations threatened by the control of Western capitalist interests, particularly those of the USA.