This Day in History: 14 November 2020
14 November 1951
69 years ago, today, the United States announced its plan to give military and economic aid to communist Yugoslavia. The action was part of the US policy to drive a further wedge between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Even though the United States had supported Josip Broz Tito during World War II, as Cold War hostilities set in, US policy toward Yugoslavia hardened. Tito was viewed simply as another tool of Soviet expansion into eastern and southern Europe. However, in 1948, Tito broke with Stalin, but still continued to proclaim his allegiance to communist ideology.
In order to win Tito's favour, the United States supported Yugoslavia's efforts in 1949 to gain a seat at the United Nations. In 1951, President Truman asked Congress to provide economic and military assistance to Yugoslavia, which was granted. Nevertheless, Tito continued to support the Soviet Union, as in 1956, he supported the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Even though the United States admired Tito's independence, sometimes he could be too independent. The American officials were concerned in the 1950s and 1960s when Tito encouraged and supported the nonalignment movement among Third World nations, as the Americans were intent on forcing those nations to choose sides in the Cold War.
Want to find out more about Yugoslavia in the Cold War? Click here for more information, or here for more about Tito.
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