The Cold War officially ended in 1991, marking a significant turning point in global politics. This period of geopolitical tension between the United States and its allies, representing the Western bloc, and the Soviet Union and its allies, representing the Eastern bloc, began after World War II and lasted for several decades. The end of the Cold War was symbolized by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, which led to the emergence of independent states from former Soviet territories. This shift paved the way for new international relations and alliances in the post-Cold War world.