Second Cold War

Second Cold War
Part of Altverse
Date Early 2008–present Location Worldwide Result Ongoing
Belligerents
TPAC Sierra Rainier Japan Korea South Vietnam Indonesia	22x20px SCO China Mexico Saudi Arabia North Vietnam Colombia Iraq Syria Nicaragua Somaliland
¹Also a member of NATO

The Second Cold War (also referred to as Cold War II) is the alleged renewal and ongoing state of international political and military tension seen previously in the first Cold War in the early 21st century between the three main factions: the American-led Western international order, and an alliance led by the rising power of China.

Historians have disputed as when the Second Cold War started but agree that the increasing strength and growth of China, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia seen in the early 21st century upstarted the tensions. Most agree that the tensions grew paramount following the start of the Great Recession in 2008 but others purport a date as early as 2001. Both nations through strong political rhetoric openly challenged the United States as the world's sole superpower and formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a means to counteract the Anglo-American states' NATO/TPAC alliances. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions have been viewed as the primary sources of contentions–areas seen as open ground for influence and power relationships. Like the Cold War, the Second Cold War is dubbed "cold" because while there has been military and political buildup between the opposing factions, no actual large-scale fighting has occurred.

Background

Main article: Cold War

In the 20th century, following the defeat of the Axis in World War II in 1945, the former wartime allies the United States and the Soviet Union split ways as rival superpowers who pursued conflicting interests and ambitions. For the next 50 years, relations between the two fluctuated variably, a nuclear arms and technology race enveloped, several proxy wars erupted (including the Korean War and Vietnam War), and politically-motivated incidents such as revolutions occurred throughout the world. The Cold War eventually subsided following the ascension of the Soviet general secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev who engaged in diplomatic rapprochement with the United States and adopted far-reaching economic and political reforms within his country. The Cold War subsequently ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, leaving the United States the sole superpower in the world.

For the remainder of the 20th century, the United States stood virtually unopposed by any challenger states and dominated international politics with its foreign and military policies. In the wake of the new century, following the September 11 attacks, the United States under George W. Bush pursued a more precise course in its foreign policy (especially in the Middle East) while Russia under Vladimir Putin pursued an equally new aggressive approach in foreign policy which openly challenged America. At this time, China was experiencing exponential economic growth and began adopting affirmative policies that protected its increasing needs and interests. The emergence of political rivalries and tensions prompted analysts and historians to declare the revival of a Cold War-like global conflict. Historians typically attribute the buildup of American and Russian missile defenses in Eastern Europe and the Russia–Georgia War as the premature start of this second Cold War. The Great Recession in 2008 only intensified tensions as it crippled the United States and other Western powers. With what was perceived as the beginning of America's decline as a superpower, Russia and China, with their rapidly growing economies, pursued on as possible contending successors.

Timeline

Somali Civil War

See also Somali Civil War

Great Recession

See also: Great Recession

Arab Spring

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See also: Arab Spring

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Senkaku Islands dispute

Senkaku Islands dispute

Baja California crisis

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See also: Baja California crisis

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Oceanic Civil War

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See also: Oceanic Civil War

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Assassination of Frank Solomon

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See also: Assassination of Frank Solomon

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Mexican invasion of Central America

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See also: 2014 invasion of Central America

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2015 Invasion of Mexico

See also: 2015 Invasion of Mexico