And it was a west-leaning country in a region full of oil and big trade routes.
Other way around - their loyalties weren’t firmly lodged with either of the superpowers, so the US in the 70s and 80s put a lot of time and effort into wooing them.
Their loyalties still aren’t lodged with anyone, but we keep sucking them off anyway.
After WW2 everyone felt really bad. And it was a west-leaning country in a region full of oil and big trade routes.
Most of the calculus has slowly changed over the years. The Congressionally-passed treaties all still remain though.
Other way around - their loyalties weren’t firmly lodged with either of the superpowers, so the US in the 70s and 80s put a lot of time and effort into wooing them.
Their loyalties still aren’t lodged with anyone, but we keep sucking them off anyway.