How did Eisenhower's foreign policy shape the early Cold War?

Eisenhower's foreign policy, known as the "New Look," significantly shaped the early Cold War through its focus on containment and nuclear deterrence.

Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, served from 1953 to 1961, a critical period in the early stages of the Cold War. His foreign policy, often referred to as the "New Look," was a strategic approach to contain the spread of communism and limit Soviet influence globally. This policy was characterised by a reliance on nuclear deterrence, covert action, and alliances.

The "New Look" policy was primarily focused on the containment of communism. This was a continuation of the Truman Doctrine, which aimed to support countries threatened by Soviet forces or communist insurrection. However, Eisenhower's approach was more aggressive and proactive. He believed in the "domino theory," which suggested that if one country fell to communism, its neighbours would follow. This belief led to significant U.S. involvement in places like Vietnam and Korea to prevent the spread of communism.

A key aspect of Eisenhower's foreign policy was the reliance on nuclear deterrence, also known as "massive retaliation." The idea was to build up a large arsenal of nuclear weapons to deter any potential aggression from the Soviet Union. This strategy was cost-effective, as maintaining a large conventional military force was expensive. However, it also increased the risk of a nuclear war.

Eisenhower also made extensive use of covert action to achieve his foreign policy goals. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was used to undermine unfriendly governments and support friendly ones. Notable examples include the overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953 and Guatemala's President Jacobo Árbenz in 1954.

Lastly, Eisenhower sought to build and strengthen alliances to contain the Soviet Union. He expanded the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and established the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO). These alliances were designed to create a united front against the spread of communism.

In conclusion, Eisenhower's foreign policy significantly shaped the early Cold War. His focus on containment, nuclear deterrence, covert action, and alliances set the tone for U.S. foreign policy throughout the Cold War era.