Central Treaty Organization

The Central Treaty Organization, or CENTO, was a Cold War security grouping intended to contain Soviet influence along the Middle East and South Asia. It connected Western strategic arrangements in Europe and Southeast Asia, but never developed the strong collective-defence machinery of NATO.

Formation and membership

It began in 1955 as the Baghdad Pact, comprising Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The United States supported its activities and joined some committees, but never became a formal treaty member.

• After Iraq withdrew in 1959, the grouping was renamed CENTO and its headquarters moved from Baghdad to Ankara.

Role in the Cold War

CENTO formed a strategic northern tier along the Soviet Union's southwestern approaches. It supported the Western policy of containment and was intended to complement NATO in Europe and SEATO in Southeast Asia.

• Members cooperated in military planning, intelligence, communications and regional development projects.
• Unlike NATO, CENTO had neither an integrated military command nor an automatic collective-defence commitment.
• Divergent threat perceptions, regional nationalism and the absence of full United States membership weakened its credibility.

Pakistan, India and dissolution

For Pakistan, membership provided access to Western military and economic assistance and strengthened its westward strategic orientation. However, Pakistan primarily viewed India as its main security challenge, while CENTO was designed principally to contain communism.

• CENTO did not act collectively in Pakistan's wars with India, revealing the mismatch between Pakistan's expectations and the alliance's purpose.
• The Iranian Revolution and the withdrawal of Iran and Pakistan led to CENTO's dissolution in 1979.