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History of United States
History of Middle East
Role of various US president’s doctrines in significant expansion and consolidation of the
US’s military presence in Middle east region up to the first gulf war (1990-1991)
We all know that up to the Second world war US was a reluctant role-player in
Middle east . The situation changed after the US entered the Second world war . It now
recognized the strategic value of the Saudi kingdom both on account of it’s oil resources and
its location as the staging post for supplies to the Soviet Union. Biggest surprise came to US
in January 1968 , when then British PM Harold Wilson announced that by the end of 1971 ,
the UK would end its presence east of Suez. Now we refer the various ‘doctrines’ that are
named after different US presidents and were framed in response to prevailing political
circumstances. And challenge from Soviet Union was central to these doctrines .
The first doctrine enunciated was ‘’Truman Doctrine” in a speech by President Harry
Truman , before congress in March 1947 . It affirmed US support for the economies and the
armed forces of Greece and Turkey . It was marked by the beginning of an era of “cold war”.
It led to the formation of NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization ) . Subsequently , in
Middle East , Bagdad Pact was signed in February 1955 , it was also known as Middle East
Treaty Organization (METO) comprising of Britain , Turkey , Iraq , Iran and Pakistan . Later
with the withdrawal of Iraq after it’s revolution of 1958 , METO was renamed as Central
Treaty Organization ( CENTO) . This organization was aimed to keep out the Soviet Union
from Middle East .
The second doctrine enunciated was ‘’ Eisenhower Doctrine ‘’ of January 1957.
Eisenhower authorized the commitment of US forces ‘To secure and protect the territorial
integrity and political independence of such nations , requesting such aid against overt armed
aggression from any nation controlled by international communism’. It was also directed to
History of United States
History of Middle East
Role of various US president’s doctrines in significant expansion and consolidation of the
US’s military presence in Middle east region up to the first gulf war (1990-1991)
We all know that up to the Second world war US was a reluctant role-player in
Middle east . The situation changed after the US entered the Second world war . It now
recognized the strategic value of the Saudi kingdom both on account of it’s oil resources and
its location as the staging post for supplies to the Soviet Union. Biggest surprise came to US
in January 1968 , when then British PM Harold Wilson announced that by the end of 1971 ,
the UK would end its presence east of Suez. Now we refer the various ‘doctrines’ that are
named after different US presidents and were framed in response to prevailing political
circumstances. And challenge from Soviet Union was central to these doctrines .
The first doctrine enunciated was ‘’Truman Doctrine” in a speech by President Harry
Truman , before congress in March 1947 . It affirmed US support for the economies and the
armed forces of Greece and Turkey . It was marked by the beginning of an era of “cold war”.
It led to the formation of NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization ) . Subsequently , in
Middle East , Bagdad Pact was signed in February 1955 , it was also known as Middle East
Treaty Organization (METO) comprising of Britain , Turkey , Iraq , Iran and Pakistan . Later
with the withdrawal of Iraq after it’s revolution of 1958 , METO was renamed as Central
Treaty Organization ( CENTO) . This organization was aimed to keep out the Soviet Union
from Middle East .
The second doctrine enunciated was ‘’ Eisenhower Doctrine ‘’ of January 1957.
Eisenhower authorized the commitment of US forces ‘To secure and protect the territorial
integrity and political independence of such nations , requesting such aid against overt armed
aggression from any nation controlled by international communism’. It was also directed to
