How did the Soviet Union respond to the Marshall Plan?

The Soviet Union's response to the Marshall Plan involved creating the Cominform, which reflects their strategy to counteract Western influence in Europe and to solidify control over Eastern Bloc nations. The Cominform, or Communist Information Bureau, was established in 1947 as a means to coordinate and promote communist parties and to work against the perceived threat posed by the U.S. and its financial aid programs.

The Marshall Plan aimed to provide economic assistance to help rebuild European countries after World War II, fostering political stability and preventing the spread of communism. The Soviet leadership perceived this as an attempt by the United States to extend its influence over Europe. Therefore, rather than accepting aid or collaborating with Western nations, the Soviets sought to strengthen their own ideological base through Cominform, maintaining solidarity among communist states and opposing Western capitalist policies. This move was part of a broader strategy to create a buffer zone and ensure that the Eastern European countries remained under Soviet influence, contrasting sharply with the economic and political cooperation promoted by the Marshall Plan.