Which U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed to contain the spread of communism?

The strategy aimed at containing the spread of communism is known as containment. This policy emerged during the early years of the Cold War as a response to the perceived threat of Soviet expansionism and the influence of communism worldwide. Formulated by diplomats like George Kennan, containment sought to prevent communism from spreading beyond its existing borders, particularly in Europe and Asia.

Key actions under this strategy included support for various military alliances and economic initiatives, such as the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe and the establishment of NATO. The policy guided U.S. actions in conflicts like the Korean and Vietnam Wars, where American military involvement aimed to stop the expansion of communist regimes.

In contrast, engagement typically focuses on open dialogue and cooperative relations with other nations, often seen in later U.S. policies towards China and the Soviet Union. Detente refers to a period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, particularly in the 1970s, which included arms control agreements but did not involve a commitment to containing communism as a primary goal. Isolationism, on the other hand, involves a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, particularly foreign countries, which contradicts the proactive measures taken under containment.