What is often referred to as the "Cold War"?

The term "Cold War" specifically refers to the prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This era was characterized by a lack of direct military conflict between the two superpowers but involved various indirect confrontations, including ideological competition, economic struggles, and proxy wars in different parts of the world. The Cold War also saw the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons, the establishment of opposing military alliances (NATO and the Warsaw Pact), and significant events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The other options mention specific conflicts or regions that occurred during different periods or under different circumstances. The Gulf War was a conflict primarily between Iraq and a coalition of nations led by the U.S. in 1990-1991, the Korean War involved direct military conflict between North and South Korea with international involvement in the early 1950s, and the conflict between NATO Allies and the Taliban refers to the War in Afghanistan that began in 2001. None of these choices encapsulate the broader ideological and geopolitical struggle characterized by the Cold War.