Western Bloc
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First World: Countries aligned with the Western Bloc (i.e., NATO and allies), led by the United States
Second World: Countries aligned with the Eastern Bloc (i.e., Warsaw Pact, China, and allies), led by the Soviet Union
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The Western Bloc, also known as the Free Bloc, Capitalist Bloc and the American Bloc, was a coalition of the countries that were allied with the United States (USA) and its ideology (liberalism), a member of NATO, and/or opposed the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, and communism during the Cold War 1947-1991. The latter were referred to as the Eastern Bloc. The governments and the press of the Western Bloc were more inclined to refer to themselves as the "Free World" or the "First World", whereas the Eastern Bloc was often called the "Communist World or Second World".
Western Bloc associations
NATO
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Germany (from 1990)
West Germany (1955–1990)
Greece (from 1952)
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain (from 1982)
Turkey (from 1952)
United Kingdom
United States
Countries which have become NATO members after the end of the Cold War
Czech Republic (from 1999)
Hungary (from 1999)
Poland (from 1999)
Bulgaria (from 2004)
Estonia (from 2004)
Latvia (from 2004)
Lithuania (from 2004)
Romania (from 2004)
Slovakia (from 2004)
Slovenia (from 2004)
Albania (from 2009)
Croatia (from 2009)
Montenegro (from 2017)
North Macedonia (from 2020)
Other NATO-affiliated states and partners
ANZUS
Compact of Free Association
CENTO
Rio Treaty
Argentina
Bahamas (from 1982)
Bolivia (until 2005)
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba (until 1959)
Dominican Republic (until 1990)
Ecuador (until 2012)
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua (until 1979)
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Trinidad and Tobago (from 1967)
United States
Uruguay
SEATO
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Australia
France (until 1965)
Laos (until 1975)
New Zealand
Pakistan (until 1972)
Philippines
South Vietnam (until 1975)
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Middle East/North Africa Region
Bahrain
Egypt (from 1979)
Iran (until 1979)
Iraq (until 1958)
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Oman
Palestine (West Bank government, until 2019)
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syrian opposition
Tunisia
Turkey (until 2009)
United Arab Emirates
Yemen (Hadi government)
North Yemen (1962–1990)
East Asia
Western Bloc Associations Today
NATO
Other NATO affiliated states and partners
Africa and Middle Eastern Partners
Asia, South East Asian and Oceania Partners
Inter-American Partners
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
See also
References
Sources
- Matloff, Maurice. Makers of Modern Strategy. Ed. Peter Paret. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1971. 702.
- Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994. 447,454.
- Lewkowicz, Nicolas. The United States, the Soviet Union and the Geopolitical Implications of the Origins of the Cold War New York and London: Anthem Press, 2018.