Anglo-American Middle East foreign policy: The special relationship from 1951--1956

Two specific crises tested the Special Relationship during the 1950s. The conflicts revealed the two countries disparaging foreign policies---specifically in the Middle East region the world. Through the Iran Oil Crisis (1951 to 1954) and the Suez Crisis of 1956 fundamental differences between the US and British policies blatantly showed the cracks in the Special Relationship. This thesis first explores Anglo-American relations in the midst of the Iran Oil Crisis. The paper covers the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951, the Iran Coup of 1953 against Mohammad Mosadeq, and the oil settlement in 1954. Second, this thesis analyzes the factors that led to the Anglo-American split during the Suez Crisis of 1956. The paper investigates the Suez Base Crisis of the early 1950s and then examines the nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956 by Egyptian President Gamal Nasser and the ensuing Suez Crisis. The paper concludes with the Suez War of 1956, which proved to an inescapable calamity for the Special Relationship. Throughout these crises the paper also evaluates the decisions made by the various political and diplomatic leaders of United States and Great Britain. Overall this topic is crucial for understanding the historical importance of (1) the United States' early Cold War policies towards the Middle East, (2) the twilight of British colonialism in the Middle East, (3) the rise of Arab nationalism and most of all, (4) the Special Relationship shared by the United States and Great Britain.