When Strategy Trumped Morals: America’s Most Controversial Allies - History Collection

8. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: Iran’s Last Monarch

For decades, the U.S. stood firmly behind Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, drawn by his pro-Western orientation and Iran’s strategic oil reserves. American involvement included supporting the CIA-backed 1953 coup that solidified the Shah’s power. While the alliance brought short-term stability, the Shah’s repressive rule sowed deep resentment among Iranians. As noted by Britannica, this partnership laid the groundwork for the 1979 revolution and decades of distrust between the U.S. and Iran.

9. Manuel Noriega: Panama’s Strongman

For years, the U.S. maintained a complicated relationship with Manuel Noriega, leveraging his intelligence services in exchange for continued support. Despite Noriega’s reputation for authoritarianism and his deep entanglement in drug trafficking, American interests in the region prevailed. Ultimately, the partnership unraveled, culminating in the U.S. invasion of Panama and Noriega’s removal in 1989. As CNN reports, this alliance underscores the risks of overlooking criminality for perceived strategic gain.

10. The Contras: Rebels in Nicaragua

In the 1980s, the U.S. secretly supported the Contras, a rebel group fighting Nicaragua’s leftist Sandinista government. Despite widespread reports of atrocities committed by the Contras, American backing continued as part of a broader anti-communist effort in Central America. The History Channel details how this controversial alliance became a defining episode of Cold War realpolitik—one where strategic imperatives repeatedly overshadowed human rights concerns.

11. Syngman Rhee: South Korea’s First President

The U.S. lent crucial backing to Syngman Rhee, South Korea’s first president, especially during the Korean War. Though Rhee’s government was marked by authoritarianism and the suppression of dissent, he was regarded as a bulwark against communist expansion in East Asia. According to Britannica, American support persisted despite widespread abuses, highlighting the recurring willingness to compromise on democratic ideals when strategic interests demanded it.

12. Hosni Mubarak: Egypt’s Longtime Ruler

For almost three decades, the U.S. supported Hosni Mubarak, viewing him as a cornerstone of stability in the volatile Middle East. Mubarak’s regime was notorious for widespread human rights violations and political repression, yet American aid continued to flow. According to the BBC, this support was largely driven by Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel and its pivotal regional role—once again demonstrating how strategic needs often outweighed moral considerations in U.S. foreign policy.

13. Anastasio Somoza: Nicaragua’s Dynasty

For decades, the U.S. supported the Somoza family as they ruled Nicaragua with an iron grip, notorious for oppression and rampant corruption. Despite the regime’s brutality, American backing was sustained by strategic and economic interests in Central America. As noted by NPR, this alliance exemplified a recurring pattern: U.S. priorities in the region frequently overshadowed calls for democracy and human rights, with lasting consequences for Nicaraguan society.

14. The Greek Military Junta

Between 1967 and 1974, the U.S. tolerated and, at times, supported Greece’s military junta, overlooking its harsh repression of dissent. The regime’s disregard for civil liberties directly contradicted American democratic principles. However, as Foreign Policy explains, maintaining NATO unity during the Cold War overshadowed concerns about democracy. This period remains a powerful example of how alliances can lead America to compromise its stated values for the sake of strategic stability.

15. Francois Duvalier: Haiti’s ‘Papa Doc’

The U.S. largely turned a blind eye to the violence and corruption of Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier’s regime in Haiti, prioritizing anti-communist loyalty over human rights concerns. As long as Duvalier opposed Soviet influence, his brutal tactics were tolerated, reflecting a pattern seen throughout U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. The New York Times notes that such alliances left deep scars on nations and their people.