The problem of creating enough world effective demand for US production
was solved by means of the Marshall Plan for Western Europe
and equivalent economic assistance to Japan, the latter occurring particularly
after the outbreak of the Korean War and on the excuse of the
war. The USA took advantage of the Cold War tensions to reinforce these
economic links with military ties – NATO plus the US–Japan Defense Pact
– which ensured that these zones would follow faithfully the political lead
of the USA on all major issues in the international arena.