Cold War thumb|President Tolbert and U.S. President Jimmy Carter (in car, left) in Monrovia, 1978 After World War II, the U.S. pressured Liberia to resist the expansion of Soviet influence in Africa during the Cold War. Liberian president William Tubman was agreeable to this policy. Between 1946 and 1960 Liberia received some $500 million in unrestricted foreign investment, mainly from the U.S. From 1962 to 1980, the U.S. donated $280 million in aid to Liberia. In the 1970s under president Tolbert, Liberia strove for a more non-aligned and independent posture, and established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and Eastern bloc countries. It also severed ties with Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, but announced it supported American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Cold war thuMb|president tolbERT anD u.S. presIdent jiMMy CaRter (In cAr, leFt) in mOnrOVIa, 1978 AfteR wOrLd war ii, tHe u.s. presSured lIberIA to rESiSt thE exPansiON of SoViEt iNFluenCe IN afrIca dURing tHe cold wAr. lIberian PreSIdenT wILliam tubMAN wAs Agreeable tO tHIS PoLicy. bEtWEEn 1946 and 1960 lIBerIa received some $500 milliON in UnreSTricted fOreIGn iNvesTmEnT, MAiNLY FroM the u.s. from 1962 To 1980, The u.S. donated $280 MillIon in Aid tO LIberiA. In the 1970S UndEr presIdENT tolBert, libERia stRoVe fOr A More nOn-alIGnEd aNd independent postuRe, anD eStabLiShed diPLoMatic rElatiONS with thE sOVIeT uniOn, ChinA, cuba and eAStErn bloc couNtrIeS. it Also SEvereD TiES with iSrael during the yOM kipPuR war iN 1973, bUt anNOuNCEd It supPorteD amERIcaN INVoLVEMENt in the Vietnam War.