This book aims to explore Anglo-American defence policies in the Middle East between 1945

and 1955 and the attempts of these two Western powers to contain the Soviet expansion

towards the region. It does not attempt to offer a comprehensive history of British and

American policies in the Middle East. Instead, it aims to explore those policies with a

particular focus on the problems of Middle East defence. It also seeks to determine the aims

behind the proposals of MEC, MEDO, NTDC and BP, their failings, and the struggle that was

undertaken against them by hostile countries, such as Egypt, India and the Soviet Union. It

examines the events surrounding their formation, development and collapse. Furthermore, it

explores the policies of the regional countries, namely Turkey, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. Thus, it

poses the questions of how the participating countries perceived the question of Middle East

defence, what their basic aims were, and what problems they faced while trying to achieve

these aims and implementing their chosen solutions.