Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - CENTO
CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) is the name given to the defense alliance between Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Britain, as of August 1959. The United States was an associate and chief supporter when the alliance was originally formed in 1955 by the Baghdad Pact. However, when Iraq withdrew in March 1959 a change of name was desired. In 1964 Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan established the Regional Cooperation for Development. Its goal was to improve the economic condition of the member states, but it was much occupied by responding to Soviet propaganda against the organization. The Soviets claimed that CENTO was a military organization "engaged in inciting war."
In any case, CENTO accomplished little in contributing to the economic development of the member states. In 1976 it was decided to set up a common market. In March 1977 the establishment of a regional development bank was announced and steps were also taken to expand regional cooperation in industry, agriculture, transportation, communications and culture. The organization ceased operating in 1978 although it enjoyed a revival by the new Iranian regime, under the name ECO.