Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - Middle East Defense Organization
At the end of World War II Britain sought to preserve its strategic privileges in the Arab countries. Britain needed to revise it`s treaties and general agreements with Iraq, Egypt and other countries. These countries were achieving independance and the existing treaties were coming to an end. The need was all the more urgent because of the perception of a Soviet strategic threat. Great Britain established a regional defense system in which it planned to play a central role. Strong political opposition in Egypt and Iraq frustrated these attempts in the late 1940`s.
In the early 1950`s, Britain suggested a multilateral defense pact United States participation. The multilateral defense pact, or Middle East command, would be linked to and guided by the Western allies. These plans were clearly directed against military and political penetration of the region by the USSR, and became part of the Cold War. Britain hoped that this multilateral arrangements would stabilize its position in the region and guarntee the future of British military bases and privileges in Egypt and Iraq.
Britain and the US were the most active in the search for such a Middle East Defense Organization, but Turkey and France also showed some interest. In October 1951, Britain, the US, France and Turkey presented to Egypt a plan for a Middle East Defense Organization. It was also termed the Supreme Allied Command for the Middle East (SACME). They invited Egypt to join as an original signatory. Other states in the region were kept briefed, with the understanding that they could later become parties to the treaty. Egypt rejected the concept outright, having no desire to join a Western alliance; furthermore, Egypt did not see Soviet policies as a threat. Its position remained unchanged when a revised plan was submitted in November 1951. Other Middle Eastern states were no more receptive and negotiations were suspended.
Overtures were renewed in 1954 and 1955, at the instigation of the US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. There was an added emphasis all the creation of a "Northern Tier" (Turkey-Iran-Pakistan) as the first and main line of defense. This time, Iraq was persuaded to join and the Baghdad Pact was concluded between Turkey and Iraq. Britain and Pakistan joined later, but this Pact never turned into a true Middle East Defense Organization and it harmed the Arab states` relations with the West.