Answer:
direct conflict
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States and the Soviet Union were the two superpowers that were in a constant race to prove to each other and to the world who is stronger. This has led to lot of tensions between them, and both countries were developing their military technology at an alarming rate. Luckily for the world, a direct military conflict between the two never occurred, thus a nuclear war, which was going to be a World War III, was avoided. That didn't stopped them from having indirect battles on neutral soil, which heavily affected the destiny of millions of people, such as in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.