Last month, Portugal marked the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution which overthrew Portugal’s conservative, pro-U.S., and anti-communist dictatorship and led to a center-left, democratically elected government a year later.
During the Cold War, the Nixon administration initially viewed the end of the Portuguese authoritarian regime as destabilizing and opening the door to a Soviet satellite in Western Europe with bad implications for Spain, Latin America, and Africa.
However, effective diplomacy by U.S. ambassador to Portugal, Frank Carlucci, played a crucial role in shaping U.S. policy, recognizing the new democratic government, accepting the end of Portugal’s colonial role in Africa and Asia, and providing economic and security assistance to the new government.
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