Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.59323/k.17.1.11
The American Perspective on Yugoslavia’s Non-Aligned Policy from 1955 to 1962
Karlo Jagatić
orcid.org/0009-0008-0497-5813
; Sesvete, Hrvatska
*
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Yugoslavia’s foreign policy in the 1950s and 1960s was shaped by three primary
factors: diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, ties with the United
States, and the doctrine of non-alignment. Nevertheless, maintaining a balance
among these elements frequently proved challenging due to their inherent
contradictions. Following the political rift between Josip Broz Tito and Joseph
Stalin, as well as the economic blockade imposed by the Eastern Bloc, Yugoslavia
was compelled to initiate economic and military cooperation with its
ideological adversary, the United States. Despite the fact that Yugoslavia sustained
high-quality cooperation with the Dwight Eisenhower administration, by
the mid-1950s it had progressively shifted towards a policy of non-alignment
and sought to strengthen its connections with Asian and African nations. This
expanding international engagement and advocacy of non-alignment by Yugoslavia
elicited adverse reactions within certain American political circles. In the
1950s, the American press and certain congressmen began to link the policy of
non-alignment with the Soviet Union, prompting growing calls for a reassessment
of Yugoslav-American relations. These claims were, in part, grounded
in the fact that Yugoslavia resumed relations with the Soviet Union in the mid-
1950s following Nikita Khrushchev’s rise to power. Tito was cognizant that his
pro-Soviet stance frequently conflicted with the official foreign policy positions
of the United States, resulting in diplomatic tensions. Anti-Yugoslav sentiment
reached its peak in 1961, following the First Conference of Heads of State or
Governments of Non-Aligned Countries held in Belgrade. In his speech, Tito
blamed the West for most global crises, and a clear manifestation of his pro-Soviet
orientation was the absence of any condemnation regarding the resumption
of Soviet nuclear tests. The protracted disputes between the U.S. executive and
legislative branches lasted nearly a year. However, despite resistance from the
John F. Kennedy administration, Congress revoked Yugoslavia’s Most Favored
Nation (MNF) Clause in 1962. This restrictive measure prompted significant
concern among Yugoslav authorities about the viability of their economy.
Nonetheless, the American president’s commitment to maintaining cooperation was evident through the administration’s efforts to mitigate the adverse effects
of Congress’s decision on Yugoslavia.
Ključne riječi
Yugoslavia ; Non-Aligned Policy ; United States ; Josip Broz Tito ; Soviet Union
Hrčak ID:
347082
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.6.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *