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 USAtook 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.