What was an underlying cause of the Cold War in Europe?

The underlying cause of the Cold War in Europe was the ideological and political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The clash between the capitalist, democratic values of the U.S. and the communist ideology of the Soviet Union created tensions, leading to the division of Europe into Western and Eastern blocs. The competition for influence and the strategic interests of both superpowers heightened mistrust and ultimately resulted in the Cold War.