Ineed does anyone know the answer to this question? during the cold war, the united states did what they could to support smaller countries in choosing a capitalist democracy over communism as a form of government. meanwhile, the soviet union urged smaller countries to embrace communism. what did each of the two superpowers do to counter the other’s influence on smaller, struggling countries? both countries pressured their neighbors to form alliances against any smaller countries--forcing these weaker nations to seek from a superpower. both the united states and the soviet union used the threat of military intervention to control smaller, struggling countries. both superpowers provided financial aid to smaller countries, hoping to sway new nations to accept their own ideals. both the u. s. and soviets offered nuclear weapons and technology to smaller countries that adopted their own form of government.