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Title: Shifting Sands of Cold War Politics: Nixon, the Middle East, and the Soviet Union
Description: Explore the intricate dance of diplomacy and power dynamics as President Nixon navigates the treacherous waters of Cold War politics, forging alliances, negotiating conflicts, and treading the delicate line between superpowers. From the Nixon Doctrine to the October War and the evolving US involvement in the Middle East, witness a pivotal era where global strategy and regional tensions intersect.
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Cilt/Volume XI Sayi/Number | Nisan/April 2018 Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi/Journal of Social Sciences 85
UNITED STATES AND LEGACY OF THE COLD WAR
POLITICS IN THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST
ilksoy ASLIM*
A...
Keywords: Middle East, United States, Soviet Union, Cold War, Détente, Russia, Israel, Arab states. AMERIKA BIRLESIK DEVLETLERI VE SOGUK SAVAS SIYASETININ
GUNUMUZDEKI ORTA DOGU UZERINDEKI MIRASI
OZET
...
fact:
The US aimed at containing the Soviet Union during the Cold War, finding itself in a competition with the SU in the Middle East. It also mentions Egypt, Iraq, and Syria as regions where the Soviet Union's influence led to direct involvement by the US.
fact:
The US had to navigate a complex situation to secure its and Israel's interests in the Middle East.
Prof., European University of Lefke, Department of International Relations (iaslim@eul. edu.tr)
YDU Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, C. XI, No. 1, (Nisan 2018)
To cite this article: Aslim, I. (2018, April)....
Introduction
At the end of the World War II the United States and the Soviet Union became two
superpowers in the globe. According to the US the Soviet Union was a revisionist country
and aimed to exp...
fact:
The US designed its global political leadership strategy before the end of World War II, marking an end to its isolation policy.
Towards the Cold War Confrontation
It was a dramatic development to see the allied powers to defeat the German bloc
confronting each other. However, the United States had suspicions regarding the int...
context:
The text discusses the United States' policy towards the Soviet Union and the Middle East during the Cold War period. It also mentions the concept of containment and the competition with the Soviet Union in the Middle East. The chunk provides additional examples of US suspicions towards the Soviet Union, such as in the Polish question, the Iranian crisis, the Greek civil war, and its territorial claims on Turkey.
context:
The new chunk provides background information on the United States and Soviet Union becoming superpowers after World War II, the US policy of containment, the shift in global political leadership towards the end of the war, and additional examples of US suspicions towards the Soviet Union post-World War II, including the Department of State paper on communism's impact on the United States, the dissolution of the Communist International and its replacement by Cominform, and George Kennan's 'Long Telegram' alerting on Soviet issues.
These two texts mainly provided justification for the new anti-Soviet policy of the US. For
the US with its support to the “free world”, they could stop the Soviet’s expansionist aims Cilt/Volume XI S...
fact:
The US justified its anti-Soviet policy by supporting the 'free world' and aiming to stop Soviet expansionism.
The first one was the
Soviet success of making an atomic bomb and the second was the communist
success in China and its alliance treaty with the Soviets in 1950 (Morgenthau, 1958). The National Securi...
The
defense was also based on string of military bases and a sophisticated network of
intelligence gathering devices located near the Soviet border. In 1952, NATO
accepted the membership of Greece and...
Karpat (ed), Turkish Foreign Policy in Transition (1950-1974), Leiden, E. J. Brill,
1975, pp. 36-37. 88 Cilt/Volume XI Sayi/Number 1 Nisan/April 2018 Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi/Journal of Social Sciences...
It was realized that
the policies of Britain and France in the region were damaging US interests. From
then on, while maintaining Anglo-American co-operation to the greatest practicable
extent, the Un...
Consequently, it was the United
States that stopped Israel, France and UK but Nasser was the beneficiary as he
became a hero in the Arab world because of the retreat of the enemies. The “victory”
of N...
For many years, the US was perceived as the center of progress and
democracy by the Middle Easterners. The establishment of Israel in 1948 however
was the beginning of difficult period for the US. Thi...
fact:
The Marshall Plan in the 1950s accelerated Europe's shift from coal to oil as the major energy source, leading to increased European dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
The Suez Crisis in October 1956 openly showed the different perceptions
concerning Middle East politics. When Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal the
United Kingdom and France coordinated their plan wit...
For more
info, please see Henry Kissinger, Diplomacy, New York, etc. (Touchstone-Simon & Schuster, 1995, 90 Cilt/Volume XI Sayi/Number 1 Nisan/April 2018 Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi/Journal of Social Scie...
The combined pressure of them
in the UN finally forced the allies to agree on a cease-fire. Resolution of the Suez
Canal crisis did not solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. It only temporarily altered the...
The US claimed that Moscow was the center of communism and
developed a strategy to contain the SU inside its borders. According to this policy
the US could not cooperate with the SU in any issue. Howe...
As the hero of Arab nationalism, Nasser could not
ignore the request and his action to Sinai in May 14, 1967, was considered as casus
belli by Israel (Hourani, 1997). President Johnson firstly wrote a...
These efforts have shown the US will to get honest broker position in the
conflict. Consequently, the US initiative failed and Israel decided to strike first. In
June 5 Israel army attacked Egypt and ...
context:
The new chunk introduces the perception of the US in the Middle East, the establishment of Israel in 1948, the impact of Israel's national status on Arab views towards the US, the US role as both a global superpower and a local force in the Middle East due to its support for Israel, the US goal of mediating the conflict between Arab states and Israel, the Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957, and the US efforts to prevent Soviet involvement in the region.
fact:
On November 22, 1967, the United States voted with other members of the Security Council for Resolution 242 which aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East.
During the Suez Crisis in 1956 the US tried to have a balanced policy towards
Egypt not to alienate itself in the eyes of the Arabs. In 1966 however it began to
increase military support to Israel. Th...
The US officials believed that there was a growing
interdependence of nations and they had to behave accordingly. The US also
realized that nationalism could work for or against its interests. This wa...
context:
The new chunk provides further details on the evolving US involvement in the Middle East, including challenges with British and French policies, the formation of the 'Northern Tier' defense arrangement against Soviet expansionism, the Baghdad Pact in 1955, the US response to Soviet penetration in the region, the Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957, the US efforts to prevent Soviet involvement in the region, the US role as a global superpower and a local force in the Middle East due to its support for Israel, the US goal of mediating the conflict between Arab states and Israel, US officials' considerations of growing interdependence of nations and the impact of nationalism on US interests, Nixon's foreign policy initiatives towards the Soviet Union, and the development of the Nixon Doctrine promoting security partnerships and negotiations over confrontation.
fact:
US officials believed in the growing interdependence of nations and the importance of adapting to it.
fact:
US officials realized that nationalism could impact US interests positively or negatively, depending on the situation.
fact:
In February 1970, Nixon sent a report to the US Congress aiming to partner with the Soviet Union and share responsibility with allies.
fact:
The US and Soviet Union signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and initiated the SALT talks under the Nixon administration.
Also, Nixon
Doctrine “looked at local proxies” to guarantee the US security. The ideology-
dominated US now was more pragmatic and have considered the détente as a
determinant in the foreign affairs w...
fact:
Egypt and Syria started the war with Israel on October 6, 1973. President Nixon warned Israel not to strike first; otherwise, Israel could not rely on US help during the war. During the first phase of the October War (Yom Kippur War), the Israelis suffered unexpected setbacks. The October War brought the two superpowers to the brink of military confrontation.
Finally, when Israel advanced, the Soviets backed Egypt
declaring to enter to the war in its side. When the US put the American troops in
alert, both sides understood the seriousness of their actions ...
fact:
The Suez Crisis in October 1956 highlighted the differing perceptions of Middle East politics. During the Suez Crisis in 1956, the US aimed to have a balanced policy towards Egypt not to alienate itself in the eyes of the Arabs. In 1966, however, the US began to increase military support to Israel with the aim of helping Israel defeat Egypt and Syria militarily, as they were seen as a threat to US national interests. Cheryl Rubenberg explains that the defeat of Egypt and Syria would lead to a loss of prestige and power for Nasser and the Baath regime. Syria and Egypt, being two states that received arms from the Soviet Union, would also mean a loss of prestige for the Soviet Union. In conclusion, Israel became a useful vehicle for the US to spread its hegemony in the region (Achcar, 2004).
fact:
The US developed the Nixon Doctrine in security matters, looking at local proxies to guarantee US security, and shifted from confrontation to negotiations in foreign policy. The ideology-dominated US now was more pragmatic and considered détente as a determinant in foreign affairs with the Soviet Union. The US and Soviet Union signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and initiated the SALT talks under the Nixon administration. The US also sponsored a resolution demanding a cease-fire between Israel and Egypt during the 1973 War.
The US long-standing policy in the Arab-Israeli conflict was formed by
Kissinger during the hotperiod of the 1973 War. After the cease-fire between the
parties, the US became the major go-between in t...
At the same time however, the US tried to convince
radical Arab countries that they could not get enough assistance from the SU to reach
their national goals. The years of 1973 and 1974 showed that Am...
context:
The new chunk discusses the US efforts to convince radical Arab countries not to rely on Soviet assistance for their national goals, the success of American policy in Egypt in the years 1973-1974, the end of Soviet presence in Egypt, and the invitation of the US into Egypt, which was considered a victory for US policy against the Soviet Union. It also mentions systemic changes influencing the Soviet Union's actions in the region, the US view of the Middle East as a test-case of Soviet intentions, the positive outcome with détente and the Cold War rules settlement, and the acceptance of the Middle East as part of the United States' sphere of interest by the Soviet Union.
Finally, the Soviet Union has to accept
the Middle East as the area belonging to the United States sphere of interest. New Cold War in the Middle East! There have been many discussions that the “new C...
context:
The new chunk discusses the 'new Cold War' in the Middle East, with the Soviet Union accepting the region as part of the United States' sphere of interest. The chunk also mentions discussions on a 'new Cold War' between the Sino-Russia alliance and the US, challenging the traditional Cold War paradigms and emphasizing non-ideological confrontations between major powers.
In both cases the US has supported its doctrines by
massive propaganda campaigns against the enemies, i.e. the SU and terrorism. However, although the US is the major power in the international system...
The nationalist government of Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran was toppled
in 1953 by the Western intervention, giving the Shias to place themselves against
Shah and then lead Iran which was one of the riva...
fact:
The United States aimed to share responsibilities and difficulties with its allies towards the Soviet Union when announcing the Nixon Doctrine.
context:
The new chunk provides insights on the US propaganda campaigns against the Soviet Union and terrorism to support its doctrines, the penetration of the Russian Federation in the Middle East challenging the US, the difficulties faced by the US in implementing the Nixon Doctrine due to differing global perspectives and interests of its allies. The chunk also mentions strained relations between Ankara and Washington in the region in the current US foreign policy implementation, as well as the successful US intervention against nationalist powers during the Cold War, highlighted by the Western intervention that led to the toppling of Mohammed Mossadegh's nationalist government in Iran in 1953, the defeat of Nasser’s armies in 1967 marked the second failure of the nationalist experiment. Although Nasser’s successor Anwar Sadat brought Egypt into Washington’s camp, one of the consequences of defeating nationalism was the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region. Recently, the invasion of Iraq by US leading coalition in 2003 and the civil war in Syria gave room to the radical Islamic groups even to form “a state” in the Middle East. Putting aside, but not forgetting, the sins of the European great powers, today the US is cooperative with the rival powers in order to ease the problems in the Middle East. The US collaborated with the Soviet Union in the United Nations platform to stop the Suez crisis and recently it worked with Russia and the Western powers to control Iran’s nuclear program. Now the US is working with Russia to stop radical Islamic fighters in the region, especially in Syria (Abc News, 2016). Moreover, the US is coordinating the diplomatic efforts in Syria with Russia. After the election of Donald Trump to presidency there have been many views that expected a retreat from the traditional policy of United States.
After the election of Donald Trump to presidency therehave been many views
that expected a retreat from the traditional policy of United States. As it is explained
above during the Cold War period the...
After the Cold War, the
United States has sought an enemy in order to claim the leadership of the West. The
events of 9/11 gave an opportunity to the US and replaced the Cold War arguments
over commun...
This rhetoric has not changed in the post-
Cold War era, although the United States continues to apply power politics in the
world in order to secure its national interests in reality. The US claims t...
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