It is a geographical part of the Balkans, and is also in close proximity to the Middle East, North Africa and the Black sea. In our case, Greece is geopolitically positioned at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa. However, if we were to adapt the term in a more cohesive way we could use the term of the Oxford dictionary which defines the term Geopolitics as the study of the way a country's position, politics, economy, size and demography influence its relationship with other countries or regions. The term Geopolitics has often been abused by academic and non-academic scholars in the field of international relations as the term itself attracts readers with increased interest in the field. In essence, had Greece not been invited to join the Western camp in the aftermath of the World War Two, it would have looked far from different as we know it today. However, when looking upon the alternatives during the Cold War, Greece could not consider an option of aligning with the other side of the Iron Curtain. Finally, Greek policy makers often have stated that Greek Foreign Policy has needed and still needs alternatives. In addition, though some scholars correctly have stressed that the West and particularly the U.S, exerted influence on Greek foreign policy during the Cold War, this analysis will focus on the benefits of this influence. However, although one can argue that this alignment came with the cost of abandoning the unification with Cyprus, this analysis will support that the Cyprus issue is a case of missed opportunities since in principle the West favored Greece on the matter. When assessing the effects of this decision, it is evident that it created a foundation for Greece’s economic development and also made a small country in the Mediterranean an important strategic ally for the U.S and Western Europe. Therefore, although the topic of Greek-Turkish relations has already been studied extensively, the significance of Greece’s alignment with the West has not been thoroughly assessed. Although this alignment directed Greek foreign policy to a great extent throughout the Cold War, the subject of Greek-Turkish relations has attracted the interest of a large number of scholars and historians due to its significance in the regional affairs of the Eastern Mediterranean. These were: the alliance of Greece with the winners of the First and Second World Wars, Greece’s membership in NATO in 1952, and the entrance of Greece in the European Economic Community in 1981. Undoubtedly, Greek Politicians took major long-term decisions, which propelled the country in the West’s sphere of influence. When looking at Greece’s Foreign Policy in the 20th century, one can see the clear alignment of Greece with the West.
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