Yugoslavia Joins NATO

In the 1950's after the Tito-Stalin split and the threat of Yugoslavia being invaded by the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact Yugoslavia was invited to join NATO.

- What would of happened to the Yugoslav state during the civil war. Would NATO of intervened on the side of the Yugoslav state?

- If the Yugoslav state survived how would the Yugoslav economy perform in the modern world?

- How would modern Yugoslav equipment like the cancelled Novi Avion done in the international arms trade?

I think the Novi Avion would of performed well in the international market. Yugoslavia had allies in the middle east, africa, asia and south america and during that time they were looking to modernize their air-force.
 
Last edited:
Though my knowledge in regards to this era isn't what it should be. I'd wager that had Yugoslavia joined NATO it's history during the latter half of the 20th century would be VERY different.

Assuming Yugoslavia's defection doesn't spark WWIII (a possibility IMO). One of the biggest changes is going to be the weakening/rebranding of the Communist party and the establishment of democracy and a free market system. Sure Tito and his Labour party will undoubtedly dominate during the early years, but the presence of Free elections is going to bring up regional differences much earlier, leading to either their resolution via concessions or the break up of the Yugoslav state. Assuming that Tito has to work democratically to keep Yugoslavia together the civil war might be avoided altogether...Perhaps in TTL Yugoslavia peacefully transitions to being the "Yugoslav Confederation" in time?

As for the Yugoslav economy, I'd imagine that their defection to NATO would be marked by large amount of Foreign aid. This alone could serve to bind the country together as infrastructure is improved and the economy strengthened.

Regarding the Yugoslavian arms industry, I think it will operate in TTL under a whole different set of constraints than it did in OTL as it will be a part of NATO instead of the USSR bloc. This means that it's army will have to be standardized with NATO equipment in mind and that in all likelihood no domestic air industry develops due to the possibility of American imports etc. If there is going to be a Novi-Avion in TTL it will be entirely different than OTL.
 
Though my knowledge in regards to this era isn't what it should be. I'd wager that had Yugoslavia joined NATO it's history during the latter half of the 20th century would be VERY different.

Assuming Yugoslavia's defection doesn't spark WWIII (a possibility IMO). One of the biggest changes is going to be the weakening/rebranding of the Communist party and the establishment of democracy and a free market system. Sure Tito and his Labour party will undoubtedly dominate during the early years, but the presence of Free elections is going to bring up regional differences much earlier, leading to either their resolution via concessions or the break up of the Yugoslav state. Assuming that Tito has to work democratically to keep Yugoslavia together the civil war might be avoided altogether...Perhaps in TTL Yugoslavia peacefully transitions to being the "Yugoslav Confederation" in time?

As for the Yugoslav economy, I'd imagine that their defection to NATO would be marked by large amount of Foreign aid. This alone could serve to bind the country together as infrastructure is improved and the economy strengthened.

Regarding the Yugoslavian arms industry, I think it will operate in TTL under a whole different set of constraints than it did in OTL as it will be a part of NATO instead of the USSR bloc. This means that it's army will have to be standardized with NATO equipment in mind and that in all likelihood no domestic air industry develops due to the possibility of American imports etc. If there is going to be a Novi-Avion in TTL it will be entirely different than OTL.

I think NATO would of accepted a communist Yugoslavia. I think the modern Yugoslav state could of acted like semi-dictatorship with multiple communist parties with strict controls of political parties allowed to form and with overall control going to Tito's communist party.

NATO Standardization would of been pretty easy for Yugoslavia seeing as it had it's own military industry and could easily modify.
 
Last edited:
A lot of people here occasionally mention that "what if". If Stalin lived a couple years longer, or his successors were more hardline towards Yugoslavia it could have happened. Wouldn't trigger a war as YU was already out of Soviet sphere.

Later... would have likely seen greater autonomy or republics and democratization... country would likely survive as a loose confederation.
 
A lot of people here occasionally mention that "what if". If Stalin lived a couple years longer, or his successors were more hardline towards Yugoslavia it could have happened. Wouldn't trigger a war as YU was already out of Soviet sphere.

Later... would have likely seen greater autonomy or republics and democratization... country would likely survive as a loose confederation.

Indeed. A United Yugoslavia in the modern would be quite a strong economic power, although I suspect their economy would suffer with the current recession.
 
Top