an American foreign policy created to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War; announced March 12, 1947 and further developed on July 12, 1948 when Truman pledged to contain Soviet threats to Greece and Turkey
The Truman Doctrine, announced by President Truman on 12 March 1947, focused on winning Greece for the West but, more importantly, constituted the president's unofficial declaration of the cold war.
The universalism of the Truman Doctrine in March 1947 was thus not a mistake or a momentary lapse of judgement. It was essential for the whole operation.