- Korean war → greatly affected US policies + attitudes → particularly in Asia
- most significantly → US → was freshly determined → to pursue its policy of containment in Asia.
- South Korea, Japan, Taiwan → became central to US policy in Asia.
- US → stationed troops + significant air power + naval ships → in South Korea and in Japan
- US → also extended its network of alliances → beyond NATO.
- 1954 → sets up a network of anti communist alliances → around world:
- Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) in SEA.
- Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) in Central Asia + Middle East.
- US gave money, advice, arms → to these allies.
- In return → leaders of these countries → suppressed communist influence at home.
- USSR saw→ these alliances as aggressive.
- Accused US → of trying to encircle communist world.
- To counter NATO → USSR set up Warsaw Treaty Organisation → better known as Warsaw Pact → 1955
- This included USSR + all other communist Eastern European countries except Yugoslavia