Reagan Doctrine

A U.S. foreign-policy strategy under Ronald Reagan that supported anti-communist insurgencies opposing Soviet-backed governments, often through weapons, funding, training, and diplomatic backing.

Covert operations: Secret activities conducted by governments to influence events abroad while concealing their role. The CIA used covert aid to support several insurgencies without openly deploying U.S. forces.
Nicaraguan Contras: Armed groups that fought Nicaragua’s Sandinista government during the 1980s. U.S. backing for the Contras became the doctrine’s most politically contentious case.
Ronald Reagan: The 40th president of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. Reagan publicly endorsed support for anti-communist resistance movements in his 1985 State of the Union address.
Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union’s 1979–1989 military intervention in Afghanistan and the conflict that followed. U.S. and allied aid increased the pressure and costs faced by Soviet forces.
Containment: A U.S. strategy to limit the spread of Soviet power and communist influence. The Reagan Doctrine extended containment by supporting forces that sought to roll back Soviet-backed governments.
Central Intelligence Agency: The U.S. government agency responsible for foreign intelligence and covert action. The CIA organized much of the doctrine’s arms, funding, and training assistance.
Afghan–Soviet War: The 1979–1989 conflict between Soviet forces and Afghan resistance groups, alongside the Soviet-backed Afghan government. U.S. support for Afghan resistance helped raise the costs of the Soviet intervention.
William J. Casey: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1981 to 1987. Casey pressed for an assertive covert campaign against Soviet influence.
Soviet–American relations: The political, military, and diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. The doctrine intensified competition even as Reagan later pursued arms-control negotiations.
Détente: A period and policy of reduced tension and expanded diplomacy between Cold War rivals. The doctrine favored pressure on Soviet influence, unlike détente’s emphasis on easing confrontation.

Linked from 6 pages