The range of the inter-Balkan cooperation

Notwithstanding the atmosphere of inter-Balkan cooperation during 1932-34, the limited applicability and strength of the Balkan Treaty on a European scale became apparent. The emergence of a series of centrifugal forces within the different parties undermined very quickly the limited possibilities of accepting and consolidating those that had been agreed. Yugoslavia, obviously displeased, tried to be in contact with Bulgaria, while Ankara tried to enhance its relations with Belgrade. Greece, for her part, made abundantly clear that she would not be bound by the Treaty in case another member-state was attacked by third state. Tied to the 1928 Italian-Greek Treaty, Greece wished to avoid being trapped in a possible war against Mussolini's Italy, especially in the event of an Italian-Yugoslavian conflict, which had been simmering since the late 1920s.

Consequently, the Treaty provided guarantees for collective security in so far as the framework of international balance of power of the early 1930s would not be significantly altered. In case of radical changes, however, the applicability of the Treaty appeared from the outset to be rather limited. With the deterioration of international relations after 1936, the Balkan Entente began to disintegrate, revealing the unstable political foundations of the inter-Balkan cooperation and unity.