From the beginning, America was neutral in the conflict. In 1939, when war broke out, President Roosevelt announced that he would not be involved in an essentially European conflict. But nevertheless, America began to ideologically align itself with the allies, especially France and Great Britain, which was reflected in diplomatic actions such as the Lend-Lease Act or exclusive trade with the allied nations. This was seen as a threat by the Axis nations, especially Japan, who viewed America as a threat to their interests in the Pacific. For this reason, Japan ended up bombing Pearl Harbor in 1941, initiating American participation in the conflict.