ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Western Trahison: A Historical Perspective on Betrayal in the Eastern Mediterranean

The concept of "Western betrayal" is deeply ingrained in the historiography of countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Greece, Cyprus, and the Eastern Mediterranean. This notion has evolved over time, drawing from various historical events and perceptions that have shaped the region's complex relationships with Western powers.

At its core, the idea of Western betrayal stems from a sense of grievance among these nations, which feel they were "victims" of Western policies that prioritized their own interests over those of their Eastern European counterparts. This perception has its roots in the Fourth Crusade, which severely weakened the Byzantine Empire and paved the way for Ottoman expansion.

The reversal of Western Europe's stance on self-determination and democracy is another significant factor contributing to this narrative. In the late 19th century, Western powers supported the emancipation movements of Central and Eastern European nations but later disengaged from these efforts at the Berlin Congress of 1878. This betrayal was compounded by the West's failure to prevent the Armenian Genocide and its inaction against the persecution of Christians in Anatolia.

The interwar period saw a further erosion of trust, as Western powers allowed Adolf Hitler to remilitarize the Rhineland, annex Austria, and dismember Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement in 1938 was seen by many as a betrayal of Czechoslovakian sovereignty, while the subsequent occupation of Poland and other Eastern European countries solidified this perception.

During World War II, Western powers' willingness to collaborate with Nazi Germany and their failure to provide adequate support to Soviet Russia further fueled resentment among Central and Eastern European nations. The Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam Conferences, where Churchill and Roosevelt accepted Stalin's demands without hesitation, were seen as a betrayal of the ideals of self-determination and democracy.

The Warsaw Uprising in 1944 was met with Western apathy, while Colin Powell later stated that he did not think "betrayal" accurately described the Allies' role in this event. Historian Athan Theoharis has argued that myths of Western betrayal were used by those opposing US membership in the United Nations to mobilize public opinion.

In Greece and Cyprus, the legacy of Western betrayal is still palpable today. The First Vienna Award's return of territories to Hungary was seen as a betrayal of Czechoslovakia, while France's alliance with Czechos