The Baltic States' drive for independence, bolstered by international recognition and support, became a symbol of the broader disintegration. When the European Community and the United States began to openly welcome and recognize the independence of Soviet republics, it signaled an unequivocal international endorsement of their sovereignty, further undermining the Kremlin's authority. Additionally, the Soviet Union's involvement in Afghanistan marked a significant drain on its resources and morale, likened to the United States' experience in Vietnam, contributing to the pervasive sense of a failing empire. In conclusion, the fall of the Soviet Union was a turning point in world history that not only altered the geopolitical environment but also indicated a change in the global balance of power. Even though the Soviet Union's collapse was largely caused by internal problems, a variety of external factors and the dynamics of international relations also had a major role in exacerbating the Union's
The Baltic States' drive for independence, bolstered by international recognition and support, became a symbol of the broader disintegration. When the European Community and the United States began to openly welcome and recognize the independence of Soviet republics, it signaled an unequivocal international endorsement of their sovereignty, further undermining the Kremlin's authority. Additionally, the Soviet Union's involvement in Afghanistan marked a significant drain on its resources and morale, likened to the United States' experience in Vietnam, contributing to the pervasive sense of a failing empire. In conclusion, the fall of the Soviet Union was a turning point in world history that not only altered the geopolitical environment but also indicated a change in the global balance of power. Even though the Soviet Union's collapse was largely caused by internal problems, a variety of external factors and the dynamics of international relations also had a major role in exacerbating the Union's