ANZUS and the Early Cold War

International developments prompted renewed considerations about a joint security alliance from late 1949 onwards, and in this context, this chapter explores initial discussions about the possibility of concluding the ANZUS Treaty. It details key changes in government officials (such as the appointment of Percy Spender as Australian External Affairs Ministers and John Foster Dulles as the lead negotiator for ANZUS discussions) and contrasts the underlying motivations behind each country’s interest in an alliance. It raises other issues that surfaced, such as joint involvement in the Korean War and difficulties coordinating policy decisions in the United Nations.