ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Greek diplomatic openings to the People’s Republic of China, Israel and the newly established military regimes of Libya, Congo and the Central African Republic. Greek–PRC relations were normalized following the US–PRC rapprochement and, in May 1973, Colonel Nikolaos Makarezos, the Greek Deputy Premier, paid an official visit to Beijing. The junta considered recognizing Israel de jure; in 1968, it appointed a full ambassador to Israel, while during the Arab–Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973, it made Greek military bases available to the Americans. In September 1969, Athens supported the rise of Muammar al-Gaddafi to power. In 1972, Stylianos Pattakos, one of the leaders of the junta, toured sub-Saharan African countries. The chapter argues that policy towards these states was a failed attempt to offset Greece’s diplomatic isolation after its withdrawal from the Council of Europe in 1969. Other strategic or ideological considerations, as well as détente, played a secondary role to the making of the junta’s foreign policy.
