Jugoslavija u američkoj vojnopolitičkoj strategiji odbrane zapada od SSSR-a 1950–1954.
Yugoslavia in the US Military-Political Strategy of Defence of the West from the USSR 1950–1954

Author(s): Nemanja Milošević
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Military history, Political history, Security and defense, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), History of Communism, Cold-War History
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Yugoslavia; USA; USSR; Greece; Turkey; Trieste Crisis
Summary/Abstract: Military-political relations between Yugoslavia and the USA (1950–1954) were very important part in geopolitical and strategic planning of the American foreign policy. After Tito-Stalin conflict in 1948 Yugoslavia was confronted with possible antagonism from the countries under the „Soviet umbrella”. This situation, precarious for Tito’s regime and survival of Yugoslavia, both in economic and political sense, dictated a slew toward the USA and Western countries. Soviet military threat was very realistic for Western analysts. As response to the Soviet threat, Western allies created a military alliance – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. This organization was very important for the future relations between Yugoslavia and the U. S. The first serious dialogues and contacts were initiated in 1950. Yugoslav authorities were afraid of the possible Soviet aggression. U. S. policy-planners, analysts and members of administration shared the same opinions and estimates. The war in Korea did not broadcast fears and pessimistic expectations on both sides. The result was Military Aid Agreement between Yugoslavia and USA, signed in November 1951 in Belgrade. Greece and Turkey joined NATO the same year. Those two countries had important role in Western strategic planning of defence against Eastern threats. Their position had directly closed Soviet output in the Mediterranean. Yugoslavia became more important not just as an example of „axle-pin strategy” but also as a strategic part of „defence-wall” against the Soviets. American policy-planners saw West Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey as „corner-stones” of that defence wall. Contacts between three Balkan countries started in 1952. The result was the Balkan Pact in 1953 and the Balkan Alliance in 1954. On the one side, American administration supported this Alliance because in that way Yugoslavia was much closer to the NATO, but, on the other, it slowed down negotiations between Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey because it wanted to have Italy in the Alliance as well. It would help the solution of the Trieste Crisis. The Trieste Crisis and the „Djilas Case” were problems which burdened relations between Yugoslavia and the USA. The agreement in 1954 between the USA, Great Britain and Yugoslavia about Trieste was a significant relief for both sides and helped further improvement in their relations.

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