In a time when Russians were attempting to spread communism, President Truman had no choice but to issue a response. On March 12, 1947, he issued the "Truman Doctrine" with the objective of containing Soviet communism by providing financial and other assistance equally to Greece and Turkey. As a result, he articulated the U.S. new foreign policy of international peace, free from coercion.
Greece and Turkey were weakened countries surrounding Russia that were susceptible to the spread of communism. Britain continued to provide financial support until they were no longer able on March 31, 1947 and this support was in order for Greece to become a "self-supporting and self-respecting democracy." President Truman did not want Greece to become a communist state simply because the Russians were able to provide the resources necessary to rebuild themselves after the second world war and the ongoing civil war. Turkey needed equal assistance because at the time of their weakness Stalin had partial control of the Dardanelles and without United States support Turkey would've lost that strategic passage between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. .
With Stalin already in Turkey, it would not have taken too much more for him to take over. President Truman was not only offering aid to Greece and Turkey as a strategic move but to spread democracy so that these two countries could "work out a way of life free from coercion. Greece and Turkey historical hadn't gotten along so to prevent additional conflict equal aid was to be provided to each country by the United States. Offering this assistance and going providing aid directly against Russia was cause for a shift in U.S. foreign policy.
President Truman was aware of the consequences involved with stepping into communist territory and adjusted foreign policy accordingly. President Truman realized that the United States alone could help Greece and Turkey but not provide the same assistance to all nations that may require such aid.
