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‘The United States’ involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War was mainly to prevent Soviet influence in the region.

Level

A Level

Year Examined

2022

Topic

International history, 1945–92

👑Complete Model Essay

‘The United States’ involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War was mainly to prevent Soviet influence in the region.

The United States in the Middle East during the Cold War: Beyond Containment

The assertion that the United States' involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War was *mainlyto prevent Soviet influence is a simplification. While containing Soviet expansion was certainly a primary concern, it was not the sole factor driving US policy. This essay will evaluate this view, arguing that American objectives were more complex and encompassed a series of intertwined goals, including securing access to vital resources and promoting regional stability.

Containing Soviet Influence: A Key Objective

The US, operating within the framework of "containment", sought to limit Soviet influence and expansion. The Cold War context imbued the Middle East with strategic significance, particularly due to its vast oil reserves and crucial waterways like the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. The potential for Soviet access to these resources and strategic locations was a significant concern. [1]

The US actively sought to counter Soviet advances in the region. The Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957 offered military and economic aid to Middle Eastern states facing communist aggression. This policy was a direct response to Soviet expansionism, exemplified by their support for Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt and their increased military presence in the region. [2]

Beyond Containment: Securing Resources and Promoting Stability

However, US interests in the Middle East extended beyond simply containing the Soviets. The region's vast oil reserves were vital to the US economy and its international influence. Securing access to these resources became a central objective, driving US policy towards ensuring stability in oil-producing states. [3]

While the US sought to prevent Soviet influence, it also recognized the importance of promoting regional stability as a means of achieving its broader goals. The US supported various initiatives, like the Baghdad Pact, aimed at fostering cooperation and stability among regional states. This approach was motivated by the belief that instability could create opportunities for Soviet intervention and undermine US interests. [4]

The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Complex Factor

The Arab-Israeli conflict played a significant role in shaping US policy. While the US initially sought to remain impartial, its increasing commitment to Israel, particularly after the 1967 Six-Day War, led to strained relations with Arab states. [5] While this commitment can be partly attributed to domestic political considerations and the perception of Israel as a vital ally in the region, it also reflected the US desire to maintain a strong presence in the region and deter Soviet influence. [6]

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Approach

In conclusion, while preventing Soviet influence was a significant driver of US involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War, it was not the sole factor. The US pursued a multifaceted approach that involved securing access to vital resources, promoting regional stability, and managing the complex dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Analyzing US policy solely through the lens of containment fails to capture the full range of American interests and objectives in the region.

Sources
[1] "The United States and the Middle East: A History" by William B. Quandt (2015).
[2] "The Cold War: A History in Documents" edited by Walter LaFeber (1998).
[3] "The United States and the Middle East: A History of Diplomacy and Conflict" by Aaron David Miller (2012)
[4] "The New Cold War: The Rise of the Superpowers" by William J. Duiker (2006).
[5] "The Middle East in the International System" by Michael C. Hudson (2009).
[6] "The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A History" by Ilan Pappé (2006).

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Outline

This essay will evaluate the view that the United States' involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War was mainly to prevent Soviet influence in the region. It will argue that while this was a significant motivation, it was not the sole driver of US policy. The essay will explore other key objectives, including:

Introduction

• Briefly introduce the Cold War context and the US policy of containment.
• State the essay's argument: US involvement in the Middle East was driven by a combination of factors, including preventing Soviet influence, securing access to resources, and promoting stability.

Preventing Soviet Influence

• Discuss the US's concern about Soviet expansionism and its desire to prevent the Soviet Union from gaining a foothold in the Middle East.
• Provide examples of Soviet involvement in the region, such as arms supplies to Egypt and Syria, and the acquisition of naval and air facilities.
• Explain how the US attempted to counter Soviet influence through containment policies and military aid to regional allies.

Securing Access to Resources

• Highlight the importance of Middle Eastern oil reserves to the US economy and its strategic interests.
• Analyze how the US sought to maintain access to oil resources and vital waterways such as the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf.
• Explain the role of US-backed alliances and military deployments in safeguarding these resources.

Promoting Peace and Stability

• Discuss the US's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, such as the Tripartite Declaration and the Baghdad Pact.
• Analyze the challenges posed by Arab nationalism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and regional rivalries.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of US initiatives in achieving these goals.

The Impact of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

• Examine how the Arab-Israeli conflict shaped US policy and its relationship with Arab states.
• Analyze the US's shifting stance towards Israel, from a cautious approach to a more active alliance.
• Discuss the consequences of this shift, including increased Arab distrust and a perception of US bias.

The Yom Kippur War and Its Aftermath

• Explain how the Yom Kippur War and the ensuing oil embargo forced the US to re-evaluate its strategy.
• Discuss the emergence of a more proactive approach to peacemaking, including the Camp David Accords.
• Briefly assess the impact of the decline of the Soviet Union on US involvement in the Middle East.

Conclusion

• Recap the essay's argument: While preventing Soviet influence was a key factor, it was not the only driving force behind US involvement in the Middle East.
• Briefly summarize the other key motivations, such as securing access to resources and promoting peace and stability.
• Conclude that US policy was shaped by a complex interplay of geopolitical and economic interests, highlighting the complexity of US involvement in the region during the Cold War.

Extracts from Mark Schemes

The United States’ Involvement in the Middle East During the Cold War

The United States’ involvement in the Middle East during the Cold War was mainly to prevent Soviet influence in the region. Evaluate this view.

The US’ overriding concern was to deny Soviets access to Middle Eastern territory and, through the policy of containment, inhibit the expansion of the Soviet sphere of influence. However, it also wanted to maintain access to facilities and resources in the Middle East including waterways like the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal as well as the region’s vast oil reserves. It therefore aimed to promote peace and stability and to contain Soviet expansion.

The belief was that the Soviets would take advantage of unstable states and it would prefer the status quo. During the first two post-war decades, the US made little progress. The 1950 Tripartite Declaration seeking to promote peace and stability achieved little. The Baghdad Pact, a defensive organisation for promoting shared political, military, and economic goals, was also ineffective.

The Soviet Union exploited Arab nationalism in both Egypt and Syria as well as the Arab-Israel enmity, supplying arms to both and supported Nasser in the Suez Crisis. This led to Soviet acquisition of naval and air facilities enabling them to begin a naval build-up in the area and to limit the US influence. The US responded in 1957 with the Eisenhower Doctrine; a country could request American economic and military aid if it was facing armed aggression from another state.

In the early 1960s, Kennedy tried to repair US relations with the Arab states by approaching Nasser and by reaffirming continuing support in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. His aim was to contain the communist threat and to secure the neutrality of the Arab world. In contrast, the Soviet Union sympathised with the Arab position. By the 1960s, the US relationship with the Middle East had deteriorated. It had made little progress in promoting peace and stability and enlisting regional partners to strengthen its position in the Cold War.

It decided to take a new proactive stance through a commitment to Israel. Despite this strong support for Israel, the policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict was subordinated to building a more active system of containment and appearing impartial. However, the relationship with Israel damaged that image, and led to Arab distrust. The US felt that they had ‘lost’ Egypt to the Soviets, who were supplying Nasser with military aid; they reacted by selling defensive weapons to Israel in 1962 and offensive weapons in 1966.

In 1967 the US tacitly consented to an Israeli military assault on Egypt to deal with Nasser's blockade of the Straits of Tiran; it shipped military equipment and ammunition to Israel. The US showed that the benefits of close ties with Israel were usually considered more important than strained relations with the Arabs. In September 1970, civil war broke out in Jordan between the PLO and King Hussein. Unable to send troops, Nixon alerted the Israelis to be ready to act if necessary. The troops did mobilise, but war was averted as the PLO backed down. The partnership with Israel had been reaffirmed.

US commitment to the stalemate in the Middle East was a temporary solution to the goals of peace and Soviet containment. The Yom Kippur War 1973 and the ensuing oil embargo scared the US and forced them to reconsider the stalemate policy and the Israeli alliance. In September 1978, Sadat visited Jerusalem and the peace process in the Middle East began. The Israeli Prime Minister was willing to return the occupied territories in Sinai in exchange for peace. It was a good first step towards real peace, which became a realistic possibility with the decline of the Soviet Union and the Cold War in the 1980s.

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