World War II in Europe erupted on September 1, 1939. America remained officially neutral but wanted to find a way to support WWI ally Great Britain without directly entering the conflict. As the war raged on, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought creative solutions to assist the Allies.
One such solution was the Destroyers for Bases Agreement signed in September 1940. This agreement allowed the United States to transfer fifty aging destroyers to Great Britain in exchange for the rights to establish military bases in British territories in the Caribbean. This move significantly strengthened the British Navy and bolstered the defense of the Atlantic Ocean.
The fact historically and today is that the United States is much stronger with robust allies. The AUKUS agreement, like the 1941 Lend-Lease program, demonstrates the importance of alliances in times of crisis. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was a precursor to these modern alliances, showcasing the power of cooperation between nations.
Shared enmity toward Franklin D. Roosevelt's United States of America is what brought Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan together again in the Pacific theater of World War II. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement helped to counteract this alliance by providing much-needed support to Britain, preventing the Axis powers from gaining further control.
The story of the lend-lease program and the USSR participation in it, told in archival photos from World War II, highlights the global impact of such agreements. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was part of this larger effort to support Allied powers and turn the tide of the war in their favor.
Whenever relations between Britain and the United States are discussed, mention of the so-called 'special relationship' is never far behind. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement solidified this special relationship by demonstrating the commitment of both nations to work together for a common cause.
Barack Obama is set to give his State of the Union address this month. If it is like most such speeches, it will be hotly debated for its policies and proposals. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was a policy that had lasting effects on the outcome of World War II and the future of international relations.
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King guided the country through six painful years of conflict, oversaw a massive war effort, and made crucial decisions that helped secure victory for the Allies. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was one of these pivotal decisions that contributed to the eventual defeat of the Axis powers.
