Proxy war | Definition, History, Examples, & Risks (2024)

proxy war, a military conflict in which one or more third parties directly or indirectly support one or more state or nonstate combatants in an effort to influence the conflict’s outcome and thereby to advance their own strategic interests or to undermine those of their opponents. Third parties in a proxy war do not participate in the actual fighting to any significant extent, if at all. Proxy wars enable major powers to avoid direct confrontation with each other as they compete for influence and resources. Direct means of support by third parties consist of military aid and training, economic assistance, and sometimes limited military operations with surrogate forces. Indirect means of support have included blockades, sanctions, trade embargoes, and other strategies designed to thwart a rival’s ambitions.

Proxy wars in history

Proxy wars have a long history in world affairs. Nations and empires have used them as both military and foreign policy strategies to influence or even subdue neighbouring states. The Byzantine Empire (330–1453), for example, instigated proxy wars by deliberately stoking hostilities between different groups within rival nations. It then backed the strongest side when civil war broke out. During World War I, Britain and France used a similar strategy by supporting the Arab Revolt (1916–18) against the Ottoman Empire. Likewise, the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) was a proxy conflict between Republican forces, supported by the Soviet Union, and Nationalist forces, supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Notably, Germany used the civil war to test new weapons technologies on the Spanish population.

As the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Soviet Union grew during the 1950s and ’60s, the intense competition between the two countries raised the spectre that direct conflict would lead to global annihilation. Proxy wars became a more acceptable way for the two superpowers to compete for world influence. During the Cold War, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China engaged in several proxy wars, including the Angolan civil war (1975–2002). The Vietnam War (1954–75) was a major proxy war for the Soviet-Chinese coalition that supported North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. The eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces and the defeat of South Vietnam achieved the coalition’s goals of limiting American influence in the region and increasing its own.

During the 1980s, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to install a new Afghan communist government, the United States acted as a third party in a proxy war that pitted Afghan and Soviet troops against Islamic guerrillas, who were supplied with weapons and other military equipment by the U.S. government. The cost of the Afghan War of 1978–92 crippled the Soviet Union and contributed to its eventual downfall.

Proxy wars have continued into the 21st century. Notable examples include a civil war in Yemen, begun in 2014, involving a major clash between the militant Houthi movement, supported by Iran, and Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States and its NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies acted as third-party supporters of Ukraine, supplying that country with significant military assistance and imposing economic sanctions on Russia, while China and Iran acted as third-party supporters of Russia.

Moral and strategic issues

Engaging in proxy wars carries significant moral and strategic risks, particularly for democratic countries that support constitutional government and human rights. These risks include:

• Facilitating the emergence of a political or military dictatorship. Such antidemocratic governments could emerge from a successful proxy war if the surrogate’s goals happen to be inconsistent with its supporter’s democratic values and morals.

• Widening local military conflicts. Supplying weapons, military equipment, and other provisions to surrogates can result in the loss or covert sale of such matériel to other militant groups.

• Failing to achieve strategic or foreign policy goals and losing influence and resources as a result. China, the United States, and Russia have all experienced such losses when they were defeated in proxy wars.

• Reducing the incentive for surrogates to use diplomacy or to enter into peace negotiations. The prospect of continued support from third parties tends to encourage surrogates to keep fighting, with devastating effects in the surrogates’ countries. Proxy wars have resulted in widespread famine, population displacement, and cultural devastation.

Despite these risks, the sponsorship of proxy wars is likely to remain high as major powers seek to further their strategic interests without having to engage in traditional, direct warfare.