During the Cold War, the United States took several significant actions in response to the Soviet Union's actions, one of the most notable being the implementation of the Marshall Plan. Initiated in 1948, the Marshall Plan provided economic aid to Western European countries devastated by World War II, aiming to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing these nations economically. Additionally, the U.S. engaged in military alliances like NATO, supported anti-communist regimes worldwide, and initiated arms races, including the development of nuclear weapons, in an effort to counter perceived Soviet threats and contain communism.