How did the us and ussr actively compete against each other in the cold war?

During the Cold War, the U.S. and USSR actively competed through a variety of means, including military buildup, particularly in nuclear arsenals, and competing political ideologies—capitalism versus communism. This rivalry manifested in proxy wars, such as those in Korea and Vietnam, where each superpower supported opposing sides. Additionally, both nations engaged in a space race, culminating in significant achievements like the U.S. moon landing and the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite. Propaganda and espionage were also key tools in this ideological battle for global influence.