What has the U.S. ever done for Greece? In a country where anti-Americanism was rife until recently, the question brought heated debates. It still does.
Although relations between the two countries are seemingly currently at their friendliest since the end of WWII, many in Greece question the country’s strategic alliance with the U.S. and revisit the history of American involvement in Greek affairs over the last seventy years.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that today our friendship and partnership and our alliance is closer and stronger than it has ever been,” President Biden noted recently during a visit of the Greek PM to the White House.
Historically, there have been ups and downs in the relations between the two nations, including positive and negative developments that have shaped generations. Here’s a list with the most important developments throughout the years:
Greece remains a member of the “free world”
The U.S. was instrumental in helping Greece remain in what was then called the Free World, by defeating the insurgency of communist guerillas during the Civil War in the country.
The United States, assuming Britain’s former mantle as Greece’s chief external patron, provided military equipment and advice.
At a time when democracies throughout Europe were struggling to contain the “communist threat” after the end of WW2, the U.S., through the declaration of the Truman Doctrine in March 1947, pledged support for “free peoples” in their fight against internal subversion.
American intervention and the consequences of the break between Josip Broz Tito (under whose leadership the Yugoslav state would eventually unite) and Stalin, combined with factionalism and altered military tactics on the left, all contributed to the defeat of the communist guerrillas in the summer of 1949.
