The ANZUS and SEATO agreements explained

Signed on 1 September 1951, the ANZUS Treaty aimed to ensure peace and safety in the Pacific region, which was seen as the biggest concern during the Cold War era.

Following the end of the Second World War and the rise of communism in China and Korea, Australia and New Zealand were increasingly worried about the political stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949, an agreement between America, Britain, and a number of other European countries.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the United States aimed to prevent the spread of communism and considered such agreements to be crucial in this role.

It was the countries of Australia and New Zealand that initially proposed the idea of an ANZUS Treaty to the United States.

Despite being initially reluctant, America eventually accepted it. The creation of the ANZUS agreement was a significant step in Australian history, as it was the first time Australia formed a political alliance that did not involve Britain.

The ANZUS Treaty was finally signed in San Francisco on 1 September 1951 and officially came into effect on 29 April 1952.

The exact requirements of the treaty are somewhat vague, and it simply states that each member nation has to "consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific" and to "act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes".

However, since 1951, the ANZUS Treaty has only been invoked once by any of the member countries.

The only time was in 2001, when Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared military support for the United States' 'War on Terror' following the September 11 terrorist attacks in America.

Since the 1980s, the United States has declared that it is no longer bound to honor its commitments to New Zealand as part of the treaty.

This was due to a diplomatic event during that time in which New Zealand became a nuclear-free country and refused access to its borders by nuclear US warships.

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was a regional-defense organization. The treaty was signed on 8 September 1954 and formally ended on 30 June 1977.

The member countries that signed onto the agreement included Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Britain, and the United States.

The SEATO agreement was created in response to the Korean War, which had broken out in 1950. China had entered the war on North Korea's side, and there was a real risk that the conflict could spread throughout Asia.

The SEATO agreement was designed to provide a similar mutual defense agreement in case of an attack by China or North Korea.

The treaty itself stated that its purpose was defensive only, but it also included clauses that provided for mutual aid between member states.

Ultimately, the agreement sought to counter any growth of communism in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, the SEATO agreement had a significant weakness: it did not have a military arm to enforce its decisions.

Instead, it relied upon the armies, navies, and air forces of its member countries.

Due to the size of the region involved and the complexities of the political agreements between the nations in the Southeast Asian region, SEATO was never an effective treaty. Consequently, it was dissolved in 1977.

While both ANZUS and SEATO aimed to prevent the spread of communism in the Asia-Pacific region, their impact varied.

The ANZUS Treaty contributed to keeping Australia and New Zealand out of the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, fostering a close alliance between the United States, Australia, and New Zealand that continues to this day.

In contrast, the SEATO agreement was less effective in achieving its goals due to its lack of a military arm and the complexities of the political agreements between the nations in Southeast Asia.

As a result, it was eventually dissolved. Nevertheless, the treaties reflect the broader efforts of the United States and its allies to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War era, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges.