The overall timeline of the GPs

What were Britain’s main motivations with their involvement in the Middle East pre-WW1?

• Strategic - This is the key area between Britain and their Empire so they wanted this area to be secure and stability

• They were involved in Egypt as the Suez was a key link to India which was vital for the British empire. It was also a key trade route (80% of British ships) so they needed to secure it.

• After the discovery of oil in Persia in 1908 the British navy became dependent on oil and started to build up militarily

What were Britain’s main motivations with their involvement in the Middle East during WW1?

• Britain were involved in the region to destabilise the Ottomans who were fighting against the British - they didn’t want their oil supply from Persia to be threatened

• This is why there were many agreements made by the British during WW1

• The Arab revolt in 1916 was encouraged by the British in order to slow Ottomans efforts down - successful as they were defeated in 1918.

What were Britain’s main motivations with their involvement in the Middle East post-WW1?

• The mandates were given by the League of Nations - Iraq was secured by the British moving in the protect their oil supply they also set up a pro-British monarchy ; Iran - Britain and the Soviets moved into Iran to protect their oil supply in WW2. Reza shah was pro-British and gave them full control of oil

• 1920-39 Egyptian protectorate - Britain had a strong presence in Egypt but it wasn’t a colony. In 1919, there was an Egyptian revolt but this failed but the Waft Party did emerge. During WW2 Britain had a large military base in Egypt due to the threat of Axis powers in Africa

What was the British role in Palestine post-WW2?

There was too much tensions between Arab and Jews - emergence of gangs such as the Stern and Irgun gang. There were many unsuccessful attempts to create stability (partition plan, White Paper). Revolts and conflict meant the British was tired and ran out of resources left in 1949.

What was the USA’s role in Palestine post-WW2?

The USA was involved as there was a big Jewish population in the US so many were Zionists. The events of the Holocaust meant that there was widespread sympathy for the Jewish homeland. The USA also wanted to have spheres of influence in the Middle East.

What was the British and French role in the Suez control?

• Egypt was independent at this point but Britain still had a degree of influence. Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez - he wanted Egypt to develop without the influence of the GPs.

• Britain needed the Suez for trade and oil and they wanted to regain influence in the ME after Palestine.

• The French needed Nasser gone as he was supporting Algerian rebels against French rule

What was the role of the USA and Britain in Iran?

• 1953 Mossadeq coup - he was strongly for Iran independence and wanted to nationalise Iranian oil

• Threat of British influence so they forced the shah to replace him with a pro-British PM

• White Revolution in the 1960s led to the Westernisation in Iran and a better trade relationship with the West.

What was the role of the USSR in the early 1950-60s?

• They had influence in Syria and Egypt - tyring to combat the US’s dominance in the ME

• They also wanted to advance communism, globally. They’d give many regimes military equipment (Iraq particularly).

• They also wanted to secure their southern boarder

What was the role of the USA in the Israel-Palestine conflict?

• Shuttle diplomacy in 1979 - Kissinger was largely involved in trying to create stability and balancing the interests of both Zionists and Arab nationalists.

• Treaty of Madrid 1979 - Face-to-face talks but no solution was found - problems such as the control of Jerusalem and the continued Israeli building of settlements and the extremists attacks on both sides

• Oslo Accords 1993 - Arafat and Rabin set up the path to peace by recognising each other - driven by the US helped both states economically. Camp David in the 1990s - large diplomatic role.

What was the role of the USA and Britain during the 1990s onwards?

• Gulf War - 1991 - Coalition with UN permission to stop Iraq having Kuwait’s oil supply also the threat of WMDs being made in Iraq (stability)

• USSR needed to ensure there was stability close to their southern boarder and US wanted stability across the region

• The GPs wanted to stop the spread of the Islamic revolution so they supported Iraq. Iran also opposed the USA - the USA was more Iraq

• The USA had troops stationed in Saudi Arabia - key USA ally