Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

Also known as SEATO

former international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia

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The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was an international alliance created to provide collective defense for member countries in Southeast Asia during the Cold War era. It was designed to prevent the spread of communism in the region by committing member nations to mutual protection against armed attack.

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Image: CongressBuilding SEATO.jpg

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Commons category: Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
inception: 1954-09-08
dissolved, abolished or demolished date: 1977-06-30
short name: OTASE

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The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty signed in September 1954 in Manila, Philippines. The formal institution of SEATO was established on 19 February 1955 at a meeting of treaty partners in Bangkok, Thailand. The organization's headquarters was also in Bangkok. A total of eight members joined the organization in its lifetime.

Primarily created to block further communist gains in Southeast Asia, SEATO is generally considered a failure, as internal conflict and dispute hindered general use of the SEATO military; however, SEATO-funded cultural and educational programs left longstanding effects in Southeast Asia. SEATO was dissolved on 30 June 1977, after many of its members lost interest and withdrew.