Which two countries were major focus points of the Truman Doctrine's assistance during the Cold War?

The Truman Doctrine, announced in 1947, aimed to contain the spread of communism by providing political, military, and economic assistance to countries threatened by Soviet influence. Greece and Turkey were both seen as critical to this strategy due to their geopolitical significance and vulnerability to communism.

In Greece, a civil war was being fought between the government, which was supported by Britain (and later the United States), and communist insurgents. The U.S. believed that if Greece fell to communism, other countries in Europe could follow suit, leading to a domino effect.

Turkey was also under pressure from the Soviet Union, which sought to expand its influence in the region, particularly around the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The strategic location of Turkey made it essential for U.S. interests in preventing further Soviet expansion.

Thus, the focus on Greece and Turkey exemplified the Truman Doctrine's commitment to supporting free peoples who were resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures, which, in this context, was primarily the Soviet Union.