Explain why the USSR and the US tried to gain the support of emerging African nations.
During the Cold War, both the USSR and the US sought to gain the support of emerging African nations for strategic reasons. These nations were seen as potential allies that could support their respective ideologies and help advance their own interests in the region.
The USSR aimed to spread communism and gain allies in its global struggle against capitalism and imperialism. By supporting emerging African nations, the USSR hoped to expand its sphere of influence and counter US influence in the region. The Soviet Union provided military aid, economic assistance, and ideological support to African countries that aligned with its communist ideology, such as Angola, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
On the other hand, the US sought to prevent the spread of communism and maintain its influence in Africa. The US used economic aid, military assistance, and diplomatic support to gain the allegiance of emerging African nations. The US also sought to secure access to valuable resources in Africa and establish military bases to counter Soviet influence in the region.
Both superpowers competed for the allegiance of African nations by offering economic and military assistance, infrastructure development, and support for national liberation movements. The struggle for influence in Africa was part of the larger global Cold War rivalry between the USSR and the US, and African nations played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of this ideological conflict.