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The emergence of the containment of communism as a major theme in U.S. foreign policy after World War II was primarily shaped by the geopolitical landscape of the time, particularly the onset of the Cold War. As the Allies' coalition during the war fractured, the United States found itself in opposition to the Soviet Union, which was expanding its influence across Eastern Europe and later into other regions.

The doctrine of containment was articulated as a strategy to prevent the further spread of communism. This policy was rooted in the belief that if communism could be contained within its existing borders, it would eventually collapse under its own weaknesses. This led to various U.S. actions, including military interventions, economic assistance programs like the Marshall Plan, and the establishment of alliances such as NATO.

The commitment to containing communism dominated American foreign policy throughout the late 1940s and into the following decades, significantly influencing international relations and conflicts, including those in Korea, Vietnam, and various parts of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This focus on containment represented a shift from previous policies, such as isolationism, which had characterized U.S. foreign policy before World War II, and positioned the U.S. as a key player in global affairs in opposition to Soviet power