International alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpowers and the calculations of the smaller states. As noted above, Europe became the main arena of conflict between the superpowers. In some cases, the superpowers used their military power to bring countries into their respective alliances. Soviet intervention in east Europe provides an example. The Soviet Union used its influence in eastern Europe, backed by the very large presence of its armies in the countries of the region, to ensure that the eastern half of Europe remained within its sphere of influence. In East and Southeast Asia and in West Asia (Middle East), the United States built an alliance system called —SEATO and CENTO. The Soviet Union and communist China responded by having close relations with regional countries such as North Vietnam, North Korea and Iraq.

Which of the following are countries of Western alliance:
a. UK, Belgium France, Luxembourg
b. Belgium, Korea, France, UK
c. UK, Luxembourg, France, Hungary
d. Romania, Hungry, France, UK

a

The alliance systems led by the two superpowers, therefore, threatened to divide the entire world into two camps. This division happened first in Europe. Most countries of western Europe sided with the US and those of eastern Europe joined the Soviet camp. That is why these were also called the ‘western’ and the ‘eastern’ alliances.