Three days ago, the United States (U.S.) president Joe Biden said that the country would not wage war against Russia, but would protect every inch of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) territory. They said a similar thing in 1953 when they supported Yugoslavia from a potential invasion of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), but 70 years ago, some NATO members were ready to go to war with the Soviets.
NATO members have an obligation to protect each of their members, which means that if any of the members is attacked, the entire NATO alliance joins.
Today, Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but it is an aspirant country that has such ambitions, which bothers Russia and which official Moscow considers a red line. Many today are wondering why the U.S. and all other members of the NATO alliance are not more active in the military sense, they do not support Ukraine. If that happened, we would probably witness a global conflict.
In the context of the current crisis and the war in Ukraine, it is worth recalling one interesting episode from 1953. Namely, the conflict between Josip Broz Tito and Joseph Stalin in 1948 in Yugoslavia also meant the threat of a potential invasion. Having just emerged from the war, an underdeveloped Yugoslavia could not defend itself.
Tito then turned to find partners among NATO members. Fear of a potential Soviet invasion also existed in Turkey and Greece. Therefore, on February 28th, 1953, a military-political alliance of Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece was signed in Ankara, with the aim of mutual support and defense against a possible attack by the USSR.
An important detail in the whole story is that Greece and Turkey were members of NATO. This practically meant that if any of the members of the pact was attacked, the other members would defend it, which is also a NATO principle.
The U.S. and the United Kingdom (UK) supported this alliance with communist Yugoslavia, although Italy, as a NATO member, opposed it because of the problems with Yugoslavia regardingTrieste. But, that crisis was soon resolved. The U.S. and the UKsaid that they would give great military and economic aid to Yugoslavia, but that they would not defend it in the event of an attack by the USSR. However, in the whole story, Yugoslavia had signed an agreement with two members of NATO, and indirectly with the entire alliance, because in the event that Turkey or Greece was attacked, all other members would have to start defense.
However, Stalin died shortly after the signing of the agreement, so everything was put aside because Tito later reconciled with the USSR.
In the context of the current situation and the attack on Ukraine, it is interesting to recall how NATO was set up 70 years ago and how some members of that alliance acted independently. This is not the case today. Today, Ukraine will not be able to sign aseparate agreement with any member of the NATO alliance.
On the other hand, it is very difficult to expect NATO to enter Ukraine militarily and clash with Russia. Today, Ukraine is militarily left to itself, with the material support of the West. However, as Biden announced, the U.S. has no intention of going to war with the Russians. Now it does not occur to America, just like 70 years ago, to open a battlefield with the Russians.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
