During the Cold War, the Western powers feared the spread of communism in South-East Asia. The United States (US) supported the Republic of South Vietnam from the late 1950s. Australia joined the Vietnam War in the 1960s to support South Vietnam, oppose communism and maintain strong security alliances with the US.
After World War II, the world was divided by the Cold War between communist and non-communist powers.
The US and its allies feared that if South Vietnam fell to the communist North Vietnamese, other countries in South-East Asia might also fall to communism. This idea was called the domino theory.
From the mid-1950s, the US increased its support for the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) against communist forces from North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (NLF, or Vietcong). By the mid-1960s, the US had greatly expanded its military role. Other nations also supported South Vietnam and the US. Australia and New Zealand contributed forces, while South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines sent military or support personnel. Together, these countries formed part of the anti-communist coalition supporting South Vietnam during the war.
Australia became involved because the Menzies government wanted to support South Vietnam, oppose the spread of communism and strengthen its alliance with the US through the ANZUS Treaty. Australia first sent advisers in 1962 and later committed combat troops.
New Zealand was more cautious, but it also saw the US alliance as important to its security. The Holyoake government sent a military contribution to South Vietnam in 1965, partly to maintain close relations with the US and stay aligned with Australia.
Glossary
- Cold War
