What major geopolitical rivalry emerged following World War II?

The major geopolitical rivalry that emerged following World War II is known as the Cold War. This period, roughly spanning from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, was characterized by intense political, military, and ideological conflicts primarily between the two superpowers of the time: the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Cold War unfolded as a result of differing political systems, with the U.S. advocating for capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union promoted communism. This rivalry led to various proxy wars, an arms race, and significant events such as the Berlin Airlift and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It also resulted in the division of Europe and the establishment of NATO and the Warsaw Pact as military alliances representing opposing sides.

This answer is grounded in historical events and the ideological differences that defined the global landscape after World War II, illustrating why the Cold War is considered the primary geopolitical struggle of that era. Other options, such as the Drug War, War on Terror, and the Gulf War, do not encapsulate the fundamental ideological and global power dynamics that characterized the post-World War II period. Each of those subsequent conflicts arose in different contexts and could be seen as consequences of broader geopolitical tensions, often influenced by the legacies