Eisenhower Presidency: French Indochina Foreign Policy
Eisenhower Presidency: French Indochina Foreign Policy
Eisenhower’s eight year presidency was riddled with United States involvement in Southeast Asia - specifically around the Indochina foreign policy. Eisenhower’s administration was truly the first administrations that was tested by the conflict in Vietnam to aid in solutions and help promote diplomacy. The war torn region of Southeast Asia had been challenged by violence for decades already to this point in history and the United States understood how critical it was to America’s strategic direction; labeling South Vietnam vital to both military position for security, and for natural resources. These are both important to have under a non-communist control, but it was even more important to insure the region of the world was not under the control of the communist regime.
North Vietnam was strongly supported by the communist power houses; Peoples Republic of China and the Soviet Union, which despised America because of it “corrupted Imperialist nation”. South Vietnam was supported by France and finically aided by the United States through Eisenhower’s presidency. By early 1954, America’s aid accounted for the lions-share of the French war effort.
The French had occupied the region for centuries and was strongly militarily involved through most of the 19th century. The French started to feel a strong push from communist party in the north during the Eisenhower’s first term, and asked the United States to become more involved. The French military strategy was becoming flawed because they dramatically under-estimated the strength and desire of the communist nation to secure South Vietnam; coupling this with the fact French moral and leadership were very low the cause was diminishing. The French felt strongly that if the United States became more involved they could win the conflict within month following the military involvement.
The French wanted to win the conflict for international
Eisenhower’s eight year presidency was riddled with United States involvement in Southeast Asia - specifically around the Indochina foreign policy. Eisenhower’s administration was truly the first administrations that was tested by the conflict in Vietnam to aid in solutions and help promote diplomacy. The war torn region of Southeast Asia had been challenged by violence for decades already to this point in history and the United States understood how critical it was to America’s strategic direction; labeling South Vietnam vital to both military position for security, and for natural resources. These are both important to have under a non-communist control, but it was even more important to insure the region of the world was not under the control of the communist regime.
North Vietnam was strongly supported by the communist power houses; Peoples Republic of China and the Soviet Union, which despised America because of it “corrupted Imperialist nation”. South Vietnam was supported by France and finically aided by the United States through Eisenhower’s presidency. By early 1954, America’s aid accounted for the lions-share of the French war effort.
The French had occupied the region for centuries and was strongly militarily involved through most of the 19th century. The French started to feel a strong push from communist party in the north during the Eisenhower’s first term, and asked the United States to become more involved. The French military strategy was becoming flawed because they dramatically under-estimated the strength and desire of the communist nation to secure South Vietnam; coupling this with the fact French moral and leadership were very low the cause was diminishing. The French felt strongly that if the United States became more involved they could win the conflict within month following the military involvement.
The French wanted to win the conflict for international