Which country withdrew from CENTO in 1959?

Which country withdrew from CENTO in 1959?

• A. Iran
• B. Pakistan
• C. Turkey
• D. Iraq

Answer: (D)

CENTO was a Cold War defense alliance formed to counter Soviet influence in the region, built on the Baghdad Pact of 1955 that included Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey with Western backing. In 1958, Iraq’s monarchy was overthrown in a coup, and the new republican government under Abd al-Karim Qasim pursued an independent foreign policy and moved away from Western security commitments. That shift led Iraq to withdraw from CENTO in 1959. This withdrawal reflected a broader realignment in the region and contributed to the weakening and eventual dissolution of CENTO.

CENTO was a Cold War defense alliance formed to counter Soviet influence in the region, built on the Baghdad Pact of 1955 that included Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey with Western backing. In 1958, Iraq’s monarchy was overthrown in a coup, and the new republican government under Abd al-Karim Qasim pursued an independent foreign policy and moved away from Western security commitments. That shift led Iraq to withdraw from CENTO in 1959. This withdrawal reflected a broader realignment in the region and contributed to the weakening and eventual dissolution of CENTO.