In what different ways was the cold war expressed?

It was expressed through rivalry militarist satellite countries of Eastern Europe; and a series of regional wars, especially in Korea, Vietnam, and later in Afghanistan. Tense standoffs occurred, like the Cuban Missile Crisis. The nuclear arms race escalated into the stockpiling of nuclear warheads. There was competition for influencing undeveloped countries worldwide, and fomenting revolutionary groups around the world. 

George