Regional Security Cooperation Between the Little Entente States 1921-1938 (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

In the diplomatic struggle that followed the First World War, the new territorial Status Quo brought about by the peace treaties split Continental Europe between the satisfied and the dissatisfied: those who wanted to maintain the status quo of the peace structure established by the treaties and those who wanted the revision of the peace treaties. However, “Security” meant more than the simple maintenance of the treaty system, and revisionism went beyond a revision of the treaties. This thesis focuses on the “Little Entente,” which is a diplomatic alliance consisting of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania that aimed to safeguard the territorial status quo achieved through the peace treaties in Central and Eastern Europe. In the early 1920s, the Little Entente took its first step by signing bilateral agreements between its member states, such as the treaties between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia on August 14, 1920, and Czechoslovakia and Romania on April 23, 1921. The agreements signed between Yugoslavia and Romania on June 7, 1921, were particularly significant. The Little Entente became closely tied to France in the late 1920s, as the latter supported the alliance and entered into alliance agreements with Czechoslovakia on January 25, 1924, Romania on June 10, 1926, and Yugoslavia on November 11, 1927. Despite these coalitions, the Little Entente was unable to defend its member states against Germany, Russia, or Italy. In 1938, when Germany and Italy dismantled Czechoslovakia, the Little Entente was powerless to prevent it, as France and Britain, the status quo powers, were also involved. Consequently, the Little Entente fell apart.

ÖZ I.Dünya savaşından sonar Avrupa devletleri arasında imzalanan barış anlaşmalarından bazı devletler memnun olmadılar. Avrupa da savaş sonrası dönemde Avrupa devletleri arasında başta sınır problemleri olmak üzere birçok mesele ortaya çıktı. Balkan devletleri de güvenlik kaygılarıyla iş birliğine gittiler. Bu bağlamda Çekoslovakya, Romanya ve Yugoslavya arasında Küçük Antant paktı kuruldu. Avrupa devletleri Fransa, Rusya ve Almanya bölgedeki çıkarları çerçevesinde Küçük Antant devletleri ile ilişkiler geliştirdi. Almanya ve İtalyanın yayılmacı politikaları ve II. Dünya savaşı öncesi değişen dengeler Küçük Antant’ın etkinliğini kaybetmesine ve dağılmasına neden oldu. Küçük Antant Almanya’nın Balkanlar’da yayılmasını engelleyemedi.