The International Relations Of The Middle East Since 1945

Modern History: The International Relations of the Middle East since 1945

Chadi Jabbour

29 October 2019

Introduction

Baghdad Pact is also popular as a pro-Western defence alliance between rive countries; Pakistan, United Kingdom, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. During the cold war, Middle East, having a strong strategy, was planning to border the Soviet Union as this was in the interest of western groups. The Soviet Union was a valuable region because of the communication linkages, abundance of oil and wealth. It was planned that the newly emerging states would be aligned with Britain, but the United States could not and failed to make the Treaty of Anglo-Egyptian successful and the Treaty of Anglo-Iraqi. Following the United Kingdom, London and Washington made contracts between the five countries. These agreements between five states, Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq, the United States, and Britain, merged the pro-Western political-military alliances to the Baghdad Pact. Baghdad Pact is considered as the outcome of a pact signed for the cooperation between Iraq and Turkey. It was 24 February 1955 when both countries signed the pact and later, they were followed by UK, Iran and Pakistan in the same year. After the independence of Iraq in 1932, she started a coalition with Great Britain and the forces of the British could easily use the territory to act against the rivalry powers which would threaten their county.

Political Purpose of Baghdad Pact 1955

Baghdad Pact is also known as the Central Treaty Organization, which was signed in 1995. The United State was interested in assisting any group of countries from the Middle East who had relations with the Russian agents in the area. To make the countries strong in the region and solve the issue of the crisis of the Suez Canal and the overcome increase in the hatred for the Western European countries the Baghdad Pact was designed. Pakistan was also invited but it was reluctant to sign the pact, so Pakistan invited the United States and the initiation was accepted. Before America became the partner in the pact, American administration supported the pact, because Egypt and Saudi Arabia were not in favour of the Baghdad Pact and their behaviours were negative towards pact. While the pact was a way to extend the military and security dealings to Israel, However, this Pact provided a complete context to make a program for the military and economic assistance. Cemal Abdul Naseer took the pact as a threat because he was ruling the country and allowing the pact to happen would result in loss of the leadership in the region and let turkey control the region. Naseer was not accepting and he did not want Iraq to play a prominent role in the Baghdad Pact. While Israel also feared the control by Britain and the efforts to turn the pact into the Middle Eastern advantages which are going to be monitored by Britain.

Affects of Baghdad Pact and the International Relations of the Middle East

Foe security and defence purpose of the county by connecting Britain with Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran Baghdad Pact was formed and this is occupied by the historiographical muddle. In the beginning, the United States was not prepared to be part of the pact because of the incident of the cold war in which Arab states and Israel were involved. However, the United States was functioning the treaty as an observer and signed agreements individually with each country of the pact. Baghdad Pact was moved to the headquarters in Turkey after the removal from Iraq.

The tensions of Pakistan and India were increasing and Pakistan expected the Baghdad Pact to resolve the tensions and conflicts between them but the Pact denied to solve the conflicts between India and Pakistan. CENTO did not support Pakistan while Pakistan was looking for an equalizer against India. The war between Pakistan and India, and Arab-Israel conflicts weakened the economy of South Asian and the Middle East and they became unstable regions during the 1960s. CENTO was showing reluctance to get involved in these disputes. Pakistan was continuously asking for help but CENTO reviewed their concerns and mentioned that they would have supported if it was USSR but cannot help if it India. However, Pakistan left this pact in 1979 and the same year, the Iranian revolution became the reason for the end of CENTO.

In 1956 the control over the Suez Canal was taken by a leader of Egypt named Jamal Abdel Nasir, and the Suez Canal was an important water channel on the international level. Them the Sinai Peninsula was invaded by the Israel and British and French alliances interfered. The consequence was that the British lost their rule over the region and the place of British in the Baghdad Pact was not the same as before. This pact was thought to get accepted by all the countries in the Middle East, but it was rejected by few countries and resulted in three division of Middle East and it is considered that Baghdad Pact was the reason for the exploitation of the slogan of Islam which is unity.

However, this pact was created to fill the power gaps and create the linkages between the Middle East countries but it turned to be objected by few countries and it resulted in the division of the Middle Eastern countries.

Bibliography

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