The Western Bloc during the Cold War means the powers allied with the United States and NATO against the People's Republic of China or Russia and the CSTO and formerly against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact until 1991.
Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact were called the Eastern Bloc. This term was rather common, while the governments and press of the Western Bloc used to speak of themselves as the Free world.
* Indicates founding member state
Further information: Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and Gulf Cooperation Council |
See also: Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict |
* Indicates pre-1991 member state