What is the cold war?:
A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular.The cold war is a decades long struggle between two very different economic and political cultures after WWII.The Cold War is the name given to the relationship that developed primarily between the USA and the USSR after World War Two.
The cold war in the middle east:
The nations that were affected by the middle east cold war were Palestine, Egypt, lebanon, Syria and Jordan.This location is a strategic region for both the U.S and the U.S.S.R because when achieving alliances with the countries in the middle east there are a lot of benefits. First, the side of whom gains the most allies from the middle east is the one who has the most support and strength in the region and with all the support they could control and play big parts in the country of their allies. Second, it is a strategic place for both the U.S and the U.S.S.R because both of them have interest in different things in the middle east region, The nation that has the most allies and supporters in the middle east is the one that benefits from the resources that are found and owned by the countries of the region. Third, the side/nation which gains the most allies is by far the strongest and leading nation, which is the status both nations of the US and USSR wanted to gain. To add on to this list of benefits from this strategic location for both the US and the USSR are a lot of individual benefits for both of them.
There were a lot of interests that served the U.S and the U.S.S.R in the middle eastern region, mostly the interests were political, economic and militaristic. The U.S.S.R interest could be counted on hand, although on the other hand the United states has a lot more interest surrounding control of the arab countries in the middle east. Both of the nations have interest in the Arab world to own and contain power in this region. Some of those interests will affect the Arab world in a positive way and the others in a negative way. This will be a lucky opportunity for both nations to control the middle eastern region and become the superpower.
United States(U.S) Interests:
1.“The Near East is of great strategic, political, and economic importance to the Free World. The area contains the greatest petroleum resources in the world and essential facilities for the transit of military forces and Free World commerce. It also contains the Holy Places of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim worlds and thereby exerts religious and cultural influences affecting people everywhere”
2. “The security interests of the United States would be critically endangered if the Near East should fall under Soviet influence or control”
3. Current conditions and political trends in the Near East are tending to obstruct or cause harm to Western interests.
4. The U.S supports both sides of the israeli-Arab conflict, which is the continued existence of israel and supports the territorial integrity of the Arab states against Israeli aggressions.
5.The United States strongly desires to see a settlement of the Palestine problem
6. “Certain Arab states have surplus agricultural commodities which compete with our own in world markets but which the Soviet bloc is willing to purchase.”
7. Near East petroleum as essential to the Western alliance
8. Since the British-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt in November 1956, the United States has been the undisputed leader of Free World interests in the area, As the british allies are important for the plan of the free world to succeed the U.S puts all the power and effort to satisfy the british interest, which is said that The United Kingdom is convinced that its continued predominance in the Persian Gulf is essential to guarantee the flow of oil necessary to maintain the British domestic economy and international position.
9. “There has been a substantial increase in production in the area since the close of World War II and a significant rise in living standards except in Egypt.”
10. The desire of the West to keep the Arab world relatively undeveloped so that it may ultimately become a source of raw materials and the primary market for Israeli industry.
11. “A further problem is created by the fact that certain of the agricultural commodities produced by the area have become surplus to and competitive with the needs and products of the West”
12. “Availability to the United States and its allies of the resources, the strategic positions and the passage rights of the area, and the denial to the Soviet bloc of strategic positions and control over such resources.”
13. “Prevention of the further extension of Soviet influence in the area and reduction of existing Soviet influence.”
14. The United states is willing for an early resolution of the Arab-Israeli disagreement.
15. “Stable, friendly and progressive governments in the area, consolidated into politically and economically viable units were consonant with our interests; aware of the threat to their own independence and integrity posed by international Communism.”
16. “In all relations with the peoples of the area, demonstrate our peaceful intentions, strengthen our influence, and reduce the risk of turmoil and conflict”
17. “Emphasizing U.S. concern for the economic, social and cultural advancement of the peoples of the area, without minimizing the dangers of Communism and Soviet aggression.”
18. “Emphasizing the political and economic aspects of our policy over its military aspects.”
19. “Encourage the economic development of the area through Attempting to increase the availability of Free World resources for the economic development of the area.”
20. “ Provide military aid to friendly countries to enhance their internal security and governmental stability and, where necessary, to support U.S. plans for the defense of the area.”
(These are some considerations and interests of the united states in the middle east…..)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(U.S.S.R/based in Russia) Interests:
1.USSR, are a mere cover for a desire to divide and dominate the area.
2.The region's oil resources and shipping lanes were of significant interest to the Soviet Union.
3.The main Soviet goal in the region was to minimize the influence of the United States.
4.The Soviet Union supports the a group of radical Arab states that were united by their quest to eliminate Israel, to gain the support of those nations.
5.The major interest for the USSR in the middle east is the oil, as they are one of the countries which have the biggest demand for oil, as oil is the most important fuel these days.
(These are the main interests of the USSR in the middle east…..)
A historical event that happened, and why it was important the overall development of the Cold War:
The Suez Canal Crisis, 1956:
(What is the suez Canal: The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.)
On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal, to the joint British-French enterprise which had owned and operated the Suez Canal since its construction in 1869. After the announcement of the egyptian president, Israeli armed forces pushed into Egypt toward the Suez Canal; soon British and french forces joined the Israeli armed forces. this event nearly brought the Soviet Union into the conflict, and damaged their relationships with the United States. After the event The USSR were eager to make full use of and derive benefit from Arab nationalism and gain a foothold in the Middle East, Also the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev railed against the invasion and threatened to rain down nuclear missiles on Western Europe if the Israeli-French-British force did not withdraw.in late 1956 and early 1957 the he British, French and Israeli governments withdrew their troops. Although The response of President Dwight Eisenhower warned the Soviet Leader that the thought of nuclear conflict would only make matters worse. The united states also threatened all three nations with economic sanctions if they persisted in their attack.The British and French forces withdrew by December; Israel finally bowed to U.S. pressure in March 1957. this historical event was important to the overall development of the middle eastern cold war because it caused one of the biggest conflicts between the United States, the USSR and the western Europe.
How the climate of the Cold War contributed to the development of the topic in general:
The cold war separated the middle east into pro-american and pro-russian. If the United States is influencing a region or country the Russians(U.S.S.R) would want to influence this certain region/country to demonstrate their strength their, same goes for the U.S.S.R; If they are influencing or taking side with a certain region or country the United States would also want to reveal their impression in that region or country. Also both sides would support any political, tribal or terrorist groups that their component is against.
This event has caused many long term impacts on the lives of the people in the middle east nation. It has caused the countries in this nation to have many differences and opposite opinions which cause a lot of difficulty and issues that need to be solved. Also now days some countries that are anti-American are causing a lot of trouble and impact on their neighbouring countries in a negative way, and cause the peace between the countries to either be endangered or fade which might lead to bigger problems on the future. Also it is causing some governments in the Arab world to reach for what they want without giving any importance to any consequence that will happen after that, even the cause of taking away innocent lives. Also this event is causing the middle east its peace and stability to collapse.
The cold war separated the middle east into pro-american and pro-russian. If the United States is influencing a region or country the Russians(U.S.S.R) would want to influence this certain region/country to demonstrate their strength their, same goes for the U.S.S.R; If they are influencing or taking side with a certain region or country the United States would also want to reveal their impression in that region or country. Also both sides would support any political, tribal or terrorist groups that their component is against.
This event has caused many long term impacts on the lives of the people in the middle east nation. It has caused the countries in this nation to have many differences and opposite opinions which cause a lot of difficulty and issues that need to be solved. Also now days some countries that are anti-American are causing a lot of trouble and impact on their neighbouring countries in a negative way, and cause the peace between the countries to either be endangered or fade which might lead to bigger problems on the future. Also it is causing some governments in the Arab world to reach for what they want without giving any importance to any consequence that will happen after that, even the cause of taking away innocent lives. Also this event is causing the middle east its peace and stability to collapse.
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