The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was an international organization founded for collective defense purpouses in Southeast Asia. The Manila Pact was signed in September 1954 for its constitution.
Its main purpouse at first was to block the expansion of communism in the region but internal disputes prevented the sucessful use of the military forces of the organization. At least, SEATO managed to implement educational and cultural programs that brought very positive effects to the region.