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Earth map, 20th century, North Pacific

20th century map depicting the USSR and China's east coasts and the west coast of the USA and Canada

The Cold War was a period of heightened tensions between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, the two largest military and economic superpowers on Earth, in the decades following World War II during the second half of the 20th century, and their respective allies. The name stemmed from the fact that the two power blocs did not engage in direct military conflict (a "hot" war).

During the Roswell Incident in 1947, American military personnel was adamant both in learning more about the Russians and about advanced Ferengi technology not getting into their hands. (DS9: "Little Green Men")

Julian Bashir's holosuite program Julian Bashir, Secret Agent was set during the 1960s at the height of the Cold War. Bashir worked for Great Britain, a participant of the Cold War as an ally of the United States. (DS9: "Our Man Bashir")

The Brush Wars were fought concurrent to the Cold War in Asia, caused by the two superpowers supplying weapons to various sides. (TOS: "A Private Little War")

The Cold War was ended in 1991 when the Soviet Union was dissolved. (VOY: "Future's End")

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The antagonistic relationship between the USSR and the USA in the Cold War was the original inspiration for the Klingon Empire and its relationship with the Federation. The end of the USSR and thus the Cold War under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev also served as inspiration for the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, pp. 137-138)

The character of Pavel Chekov in Star Trek: The Original Series was a controversial move, coming as it did at the height of the Cold War, only six years after the construction of the Berlin Wall and five years after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The script of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Destiny" describes the meeting between Benjamin Sisko and his crew with Ulani Belor and Gilora Rejal as being "like a meeting between Americans and Russians at the height of the Cold War."

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