The Soviet Union and the US were superpowers and aided other nations who were not communists. Both sides were ready and armed for a nuclear war at any time and helped other countries to secure their alliance.
During the cold war, the United States and Soviet Union fought because of differences in political ideology. The Soviet Union supported communism, whereas the US supported democracy. Both countries were competing in the Middle East to diffuse their form of government. By providing military assistance, both countries were hoping Middle Eastern nations to side with one of them. You could also say the competition for oil too.
