While 1985 is often remembered for the rise of personal computing and the height of Cold War tension, the year was also defined by a series of intense and consequential conflicts across the globe. From the frozen tundra of Afghanistan to the tropical jungles of Central America, proxy wars fueled by superpower rivalry continued to bleed without direct confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. Understanding these struggles is essential to grasping the geopolitical landscape of the mid-1980s.
The Soviet-Afghan War: A Quagmire Deepens
Perhaps the most significant armed conflict of 1985 was the Soviet-Afghan War, which had begun in 19 mujahideen, supplied primarily by the United States through Pakistan, had transformed the nation into a proving ground for international insurgency. The Soviet strategy of simply holding territory proved ineffective against a mobile and deeply motivated enemy.
Internationalization of the Conflict
During this period, the conflict evolved into a magnet for foreign fighters and resources. The United States, under the leadership of Director of Central Intelligence William Casey, significantly increased the flow of weapons, including the shoulder-fired Stinger missiles that would later prove devastating to Soviet air power. Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations contributed funds, turning the war into a massive financial and ideological struggle that would outlast the Soviet Union itself.
Central American Turmoil
In Central America, the struggle between leftist movements and US-backed authoritarian regimes reached a fever pitch. The region became a defining battleground of the Cold War, with Washington determined to halt the perceived spread of communism, particularly following the success of the Nicaraguan Revolution in 1979.
Contras and the Iran-Contra Affair
In Nicaragua, the Contra rebels, backed by the United States, intensified their campaign against the socialist Sandinista government. This activity was central to the emerging Iran-Contra affair, where US arms sales to Iran were secretly funneled to fund the Contras. The scandal, which began to unravel publicly in late 1985, highlighted the complex and often covert nature of foreign policy during the era.
Conflict in El Salvador and Guatemala
El Salvador was locked in a brutal civil war against the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a conflict characterized by extreme violence and human rights abuses on both sides. Meanwhile, Guatemala continued its own grim internal struggle, where the military government’s campaign against indigenous Maya populations constituted some of the most severe human rights violations of the year.
Southern African Conflicts
The struggle against apartheid in South Africa manifested in various regional conflicts during 1985. The South African Border War, also known as the Angolan Bush War, remained a critical front where the apartheid regime clashed with Soviet and Cuban-backed forces from Angola.
Namibia and Regional Diplomacy
The year saw significant diplomatic maneuvering regarding Namibia, a South African territory occupied since 1975. Internationally backed peace plans sought to link the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola with the independence of Namibia, a formula that continued to stall throughout 1985. The internal resistance within South Africa, led by organizations such as the African National Congress (ANC), was also met with severe repression, setting the stage for the unrest that would follow.
Lebanon: The Siege Intensifies
In the Middle East, the Lebanese Civil War entered a new phase of fragmentation. The Israeli invasion of 1982 had pushed the Palestine Liberation Organization out of the south, but the country remained fractured. By 1985, Israel had withdrawn to a security zone in the south, leaving a power vacuum that various militias struggled to fill.
