What was the outcome of the Soviet Union's pledge made during the Yalta Conference?

The outcome of the Soviet Union's pledge made during the Yalta Conference is primarily associated with the establishment of the Cold War dynamics. At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union discussed the post-war reorganization of Europe and the need for cooperation in order to maintain peace. However, tensions arose due to differing visions of post-war governance, especially regarding Eastern Europe.

The Soviet Union's commitment to allow free elections in Eastern European countries was later abandoned, leading to the establishment of communist governments aligned with Moscow. This betrayal of promises fostered deep-seated mistrust between the United States and the USSR, marking the beginning of the Cold War, a prolonged period of geopolitical tension and rivalry characterized by ideological conflict between capitalism and communism.

While NATO formation, the Marshall Plan, and the establishment of the United Nations were significant developments in the post-war era, they stemmed from the undercurrents of the Cold War rather than being a direct outcome of the agreements made at Yalta. Therefore, the most accurate answer reflecting the long-term consequences of the Yalta Conference and the subsequent actions of the Soviet Union is the emergence of the Cold War.