SEATO

Dwight D Eisenhower

Definition and Summary of the SEATO
Summary and Definition: SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, was formed at Bangkok, Thailand. on September 8, 1954. Despite the name of SEATO, the organization consisted of countries mainly located outside of Southeast Asia including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan (including East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). Thailand and the Philippines were the only Southeast Asian countries that actually participated in the organization. SEATO was established during the Cold War and was intended to be a Southeast Asian version of NATO.

The purpose of SEATO was to create a mutual defense pact aimed at containing the spread of Communism by the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). SEATO allowed for the military forces of each member to be coordinated to provide for the collective defense against communist aggression. SEATO never reached the same level as the North Atlantic treaty and was formally dissolved on 30 June 1977.

     
   

SEATO
Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th American President who served in office from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961. One of the important events during his presidency was the establishment of SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.

SEATO Facts for kids
The following fact sheet contains interesting information, history and facts on SEATO for kids.

SEATO Facts for kids

SEATO Facts - 1: SEATO stands for the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and was formed at Bangkok, Thailand. on September 8, 1954.

SEATO Facts - 2: SEATO consisted of the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan (including East Pakistan, now Bangladesh), Thailand and the Philippines.

SEATO Facts - 3: Thailand and the Philippines were the only countries in the organization that located inside Southeast Asia. Both Thailand and the Philippines already shared close ties with the United States.

SEATO Facts - 4: Australia and New Zealand viewed SEATO as a more powerful collective defense organization than the existing ANZUS Pact, the Pacific Security Treaty, that had been signed by Australia, New Zealand, and the United States on September 1, 1951

SEATO Facts - 5: The treaty, also known as the Manila Pact, became operative in February 1955 binding the signatories to mutual aid to resist military attack or subversion by Communist forces. An armed attack on one signatory was interpreted as a danger to all of the countries.

SEATO Facts - 6: The organization was established during the Cold War and was intended to be a Southeast Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operating in Europe, and expand the concept of anti-communist collective defense into Asia.

SEATO Facts - 7: The United States saw the establishment of SEATO as essential to its foreign policy and its Cold War Containment Policy in Southeast Asia.

SEATO Facts - 8: The Korean War (June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953) had shown that China was willing to provide armed support for other communist regimes

SEATO Facts - 9: In April 1954 the Geneva Accords were designed to secure peace in Vietnam and organize an interim government in Vietnam to lead to Vietnam’s transition to independence. The intentions of the Geneva Accords failed and the war between communist-backed North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam followed.

SEATO Facts - 10: President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of State John Foster Dulles is considered to be the main force behind the creation of SEATO.  Dulles advocated its creation following the French military defeat at Dien Bien Phu in northern Vietnam in April 1954 when North Vietnam became a communist regime.

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SEATO Facts for kids

Facts about the SEATO for kids
The following fact sheet continues with facts about SEATO.

SEATO Facts for kids

SEATO Facts - 11: By 1954 the situation in South-East Asia was looking increasingly dangerous and there was an overwhelming fear of the further spread of communism. The Domino Theory speculated that if one region came under communism, other countries would follow.

SEATO Facts - 12: The mutual defense pact was specifically aimed at containing the spread of Communism by the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). The communists were determined to see the reunification of the two countries of North Vietnam and South Vietnam under Communism.

SEATO Facts - 13: The main significance of SEATO was that it formalized the U.S. commitment to Southeast Asia.

SEATO Facts - 14: The Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955. The United States provided the South Vietnam government with considerable financial aid and economic support, although the first US combat troops were not sent to Vietnam until March 1965. US troops eventually left Vietnam in August 1973.

SEATO Facts - 15: The organization was headquartered in Bangkok from September 1957 to 1 January 1958 and its first Secretary General was Pote Sarasin, a diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Thailand

SEATO Facts - 16: SEATO relied on the military forces of member nations rather than commanding its own standing forces. The strength of the alliance was tested by the conflicts in Vietnam and Laos.

SEATO Facts - 17: Unlike the NATO alliance, SEATO had no joint commands with standing forces. The alliance began to fall apart as Great Britain refused active military cooperation in the Vietnam conflict. Another European member, France, withdrew from military cooperation in SEATO in 1967.

SEATO Facts - 18: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its aims were for regional militarization and adhered to the concept of 'neutralizing'  the region and drwaing away from involvement with the big powers.

SEATO Facts - 19: The alliance was undermined still further as Pakistan drew closer to communist China and the United States undertook to provide aid to India.

SEATO Facts - 20: Pakistan completely withdrew from SEATO  after the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and other countries lost interest

SEATO Facts - 21: At a meeting in New York in September 1975 it was agreed to bring an end to the organization. SEATO was formally dissolved on June 30, 1977

SEATO Facts - 22: Although the organization was dissolved, the treaty (Manila Pact) remains in effect and can be invoked at any time according to its terms.

SEATO Facts for kids

SEATO - President Dwight Eisenhower Video
The article on the SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Dwight Eisenhower video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 34th American President whose presidency spanned from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961.

SEATO - Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

● Facts about the SEATO for kids and schools
● Summary of the SEATO in US history
● The SEATO, a major event in US history
● Dwight Eisenhower from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961
● Fast, fun facts about the SEATO,
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President Dwight Eisenhower
● Dwight Eisenhower Presidency and SEATO,
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization for schools, homework, kids and children

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