Final answer:
President Truman was influenced by the threat of Soviet expansion, Britain's inability to continue its support due to economic strains, and the strategic significance of Greece and Turkey to U.S. interests. The Truman Doctrine was announced, which provided military and financial aid to resist Communist expansion, marking a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy towards active containment of Communism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the foreign policy problems that influenced President Truman's decision to actively aid Greece and Turkey included the following:
- After World War II, Britain was responsible for disarming German troops in Greece but could no longer afford to support the Greek government against Communist rebels. The potential fall of Greece to Communism could lead to similar outcomes in neighboring countries, a concept known as the domino theory.
- Turkey faced pressure from the Soviets who were interested in controlling the Dardanelles to secure access from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, essential for the Soviet Navy.
- The British withdrawal presented the threat of Communist expansion in a region traditionally seen as Britain's sphere of influence, compelling the U.S. to step in to contain Communism.
In response, Truman addressed Congress and outlined the Truman Doctrine, committing the United States to support free peoples against Communism. This set the precedent for U.S. foreign policy of containment during the Cold War period. The popular acceptance of this doctrine and strategic interests in the region led to a Congressional appropriation of $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to combat Communist forces.