nr. 13/2002 - SSI Erasmus – ISHA Bucharest

ERASMUS № 13 / 2002
Soviet penetration in the Middle East,
1945 - 1957
George George COLGIU
COLGIU
The Middle East area represented one of the most sensitive areas in the
world and one of the main fronts of the Cold War.The Middle East proved to be
one of the most unstable areas in the world, with numerous conflicts, revolutions
and spectacular overthrowns.
Great Powers made serious efforts to impose themselves in this area. This
region was not exempted from problems before the Cold War, but these conflicts
were local conflicts which did not affect the international relationship between the
Great Powers.In a few decades, this area became one of the main battlefields of
the Great Powers‘ confruntations. Their intervention transformed some local conflicts
into major international crises.
The Middle East 1 has a geostrategic position, being a real vertebra for three
continents and two seas. In 1869 Ferdinand de Lesseps pierced the Suez isthmus
with his famous Suez Canal, shortening the comercial lines to India and the
Far East area. In 1908 Knox d‘Arcy found oil in Persia, an indinspensable element
of the modern civilisation. All these factors, cumulated, represented a major
stake for the Great Powers.
One of the first penetrations in this area was made by Great Britain in 1881,
when this Great Power imposed its protectorate over Egypt. Its objective 2 was to
secure its communication lines to India through the Suez Canal. In 1936, this
protectorate was transformed into an alliance through the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty,
signed by London and Cairo.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire 3 in 1918, Great Britain spread its
influence over the entire Middle East, with a few exceptions. In order to provide
the British presence in this area a lasting nature, London exploited at maximum,
from the Lawrence era, playing the card of Arab nationalism, making foundings
of dynasties from a few tribal rulers. They were integrated in the British establishment,
opening for them the universities and their clubs. Through British education,
powerfully links and economic interests, the Arab rulers have to declare
themselves solidary with the British Empire. One of the most powerful reason
which pushed the Arab governments from this era to link their destinies with those
of the British Empire was their aim to combat the Zionism. On november 1917,
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