What significant international event did Leonid Brezhnev oversee during his leadership of the Soviet Union?

During Leonid Brezhnev's leadership of the Soviet Union, the most significant international event he oversaw was the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This military intervention marked a critical moment in the Soviet Union's foreign policy and had lasting implications for both the region and global geopolitics. The decision to invade was influenced by concerns of a rising Islamic insurgency in Afghanistan and the desire to support the communist government there, which was struggling against internal opposition.

The invasion escalated tensions during the Cold War, leading to a protracted conflict that undermined the Soviet economy and military. It also contributed to the deterioration of U.S.-Soviet relations and ultimately influenced the trajectory of foreign policy in the following decades, including the U.S. response that involved supporting Afghan mujahideen fighters. This event is widely regarded as one of the factors that contributed to the eventual decline of the Soviet Union itself.

In contrast, the installation of the Berlin Wall occurred in 1961, before Brezhnev's time in power, while the Geneva Convention refers to treaties that were established in the mid-20th century, not tied to his leadership. Lastly, while economic reforms were a topic of discussion during Brezhnev's rule, significant changes to the