Jugoslovensko-italijanski odnosi i stvaranje Balkanskog pakta 1953. godine
Yugoslav-Italian Relations and Creation of the Balkan Pact in 1953

Author(s): Miljan Milkić
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Cold-War History
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Yugoslavia; Italy; Balkan Pact; Trieste; NATO
Summary/Abstract: Relations between Yugoslavia and Italy in the period preceding the signing of the Balkan Pact in 1953, due to wider international circumstances, have largely depended on the policy of Great Powers. Creation of the Yugoslav and Italian foreign policy in this period was under the infl uence of strategic reasons and position of two countries within the NATO defence plans. Unsettled border issue concerning the disputable territory of the city of Trieste was the main obstacle to normalization of cooperation and the issue which placed Yugoslav-Italian relations in a wider international context. Foreign-policy decision-makers on both sides had to make their decisions in accordance with and at the dictate of arrangements that were a part of security interests of the Balkans and Europe. Alliance established by Yugoslavia with the Balkan NATO members, Greece and Turkey, placed Italy in inferior position in relation to the NATO and threatened its leading role in defence of the Mediterranean. Expectations of the Italian government to assume leadership within the NATO South Wing were in contradiction with the interests of the only Alliance members from the Balkans. After the negotiations started with Yugoslavia toward the founding of the Balkan Pact, these countries, out of consideration for the new ally, became additionally cautious toward Italy. Preparations for the signing of the Balkan Pact were blocked at one point because of the Trieste issue. The pressure of Western powers on the Italian government to prevent it from blocking the negotiations and on the Yugoslav government to enter into the alliance of Balkan states led to the creation of the Balkan Pact between Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey on 28 February 1953.

• Details
• Contents