International treaties and Greek foreign policy before 1936

In the 1920s, the internationally enfeebled and economically dependent Greece faced immense difficulties, in order to deal successfully with the multiply burdened conjuncture that was marked, among others, by the economic crisis of 1929 and the rise of fascism in Europe. The conclusion of a series of friendship pacts and the participation in the course of the inter-Balkan cooperation constituted the principal keystones of Greek diplomacy.

On the other hand, the contacts with the Great Powers continued to be part of the equidistance policy, while Britain maintained a small precedence, until 1935 at least, related to the economic ties of the country. Greek foreign policy in the period between 1936 and 1944 was characterised by fluidity on all levels: policy of alliances, seeking forms of collective security, relations with neighbouring states and the Great Powers. The dictatorship of 4 August (the Metaxas regime) inherited structures and obligations in the exercise of foreign policy, which Metaxas declared he would honour and reinforce with new initiatives in the same direction.