How was the cold war like a war even thouh the united states and the soviet union never engaged in battle

It was known as the cuban missile crisis. The united states and russia kept threatening to send missiles at one another. No combat was ever engaged.

It was an indirect fight for communism to the US. Although they never engaged in direct combat they both wanted to make sure the other country new they were ready for any military action if needed (ex: Space race, Cuban missile crisis). The soviets supported North Vietnam through the 50’s and 70’s because the rebels in the North wanted to be communist. Although soviets didn’t fight it but just sent weapons, the US eventually was in combat in the ground and water against the North Vietnam groups and fighting with the South. Same with The Korean War, Soviet’s helped out the North because they wanted to be communist. The US fought with the south. Even after the Cold War the US sent aid ( money) to Turkey and Greece so they wouldn’t fall to the soviets communism. Their was no war between the two because three countries knew it would be missile vs. missile. The Cuban missile Crisis proves that by the way Reagan retreated his missiles from Cuba to avoid the confrontation with the soviets. It’s assured mutual destruction.