Consequences of the formation of NATO

Question 1

1st consequence

Answer 1

The first effect of setting up NATO was that it showed the USA and Western Powers’ determination to stand firm against communism.

• NATO was a specific military alliance between Western countries to defend the West against communism.
• the members of NATO agree that if any member was attacked, all members of NATO would come to its assistance
• The alliance was supported with large numbers of troops on the ground and so there was a permanent presence of American forces in Europe so they could continue their policy of containment.

Question 2

2nd consequence

Answer 2

The second effect was that the Soviet Union, in response to NATO, set up its military alliance in 1955, established under a treaty called the Warsaw Pact, increasing hostility between international relations

• the countries within the Warsaw Pact became known as the ‘Eastern Bloc’.
• Despite the pact having many member states, the leadership was entirely Soviet and the alliance was under the command of the Soviet Union
• the Warsaw Pact distinguished that now there were two Europes, one under the protection of the USA, working to defend communist control, and the other was led by the Soviet Union and seeking to extend communist control