• North Korea 🇰🇵 attacks South Korea 🇰🇷.
• The US 🇺🇸 fears this is just the tip of the iceberg for Soviet 🇷🇺 aggression.
• Time to get to action!

🚀 NSC-68

• What? A recommendation.
• Action? Tripled the defense budget 💰.

🌍 Europe

• Increased Muscle Power: US beefed up its land forces 🪖.
• NATO
  • Strength Boost 💪.
  • Welcomed Greece 🇬🇷 and Turkey 🇹🇷.
  • Set up military bases in Turkey (right next to USSR's doorstep 🏠).

🇩🇪 Germany

• West Germany should arm up and join NATO: Given super priority!🌟.

🌏 Asia

• Japan 🇯🇵
  • Treaty of San Francisco (1952): Allows US military bases 🏕️ in Japan.
  • Plan? Make Japan economically strong 💴 against Communism.
• Taiwan 🇹🇼
  • Initial Defense: US Seventh Fleet 🚢 was guarding Taiwan Strait.
  • Post-Korean War: US showered Taiwan with gifts 🎁 (military & economic aid).
  • Recognized Taiwan as the official China till 1971.
• China 🇨🇳
  • US put China in a 'time-out' 🙅.
  • No seat for China at the UN Security Council's cool kids' table 🚫🪑.
• US Support in Asia
  • Backing regimes fighting Communism 🛡️ (e.g., Philippines 🇵🇭 & Vietnam 🇻🇳).
• SEATO Formation: Anti-Communist containment group in Asia.

🇰🇷 Korea

• Human & property loss: Huge 😢.
• Hope for reunification? Nope.
• North stays Communist, South becomes capitalist wonder with a sprinkle of US and Japanese investment.

🇨🇳 China

• Reputation up 📈: Tackled US, backed North Korea.
• Internal boost for Mao Zedong ✊.
• But, resources diverted from recovery to war.
• Dream of Taiwan + China reunion? Trickier.

🇷🇺 USSR

• Stayed away from direct fighting, but faced intensified Cold War pressure.
• Korean War aftermath = Tougher times for USSR.

🌏 Southeast Asia

• Cold War theater 🎭: US sees Communist movements as a global challenge.
• Harder for post-colonial nationalist movements.
• More dependency on USSR or China.
• Direct fighting seen in places like Vietnam 🥊.