The Role of Portugal in the Security Policy of the United States of America (1943-1949)

Bachelor thesis The Role of Portugal in the Security Policy of the United States of America (1943-1949) analyses the relationship between United States of America and Portugal during second world war and in following postwar period. Portugal in wartime Europe defined itself as a neutral state. Salazar's cautious foreign policy deceived either Great Britain and Germany. Great Britain was seen by Salazar as naval world power and traditional ally. Germany in Salazar's view was powerful state capable of confront the Soviet threat in the middle Europe. Western allies since the war began has shown the interest of the geostrategic significant Azores Islands. Salazar's major focus was to keep his country neutral, as he rejected to lend the army bases at the Azores Islands to the Western Allies. At the end of the war, when the German defeat was evident, Salazar allowed to use and lent the bases at the Azores to USA. Portugal became valuable partner in the security policy of the USA. Its role gained the importance even after the second world war, when the democratic values were in threat by the Soviet union. The establishment of the NATO was reaction on this particular menace, and one of the founder member of this alliance was Portugal as well as USA