Containment
A geopolitical strategy of preventing an adversary from expanding its influence, most famously applied during the Cold War to limit Soviet power.
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Origin
American diplomat George F. Kennan laid the groundwork in February 1946 with his 5,000-word Long Telegram from Moscow, analyzing Soviet expansionism. He formalized the strategy in his July 1947 "Sources of Soviet Conduct" article in Foreign Affairs, published under the pseudonym "X," which introduced the word "containment" into the foreign-policy lexicon. The Truman Doctrine soon adopted the framework, making it the cornerstone of U.S. Cold War strategy for four decades.
Updated February 22, 2026