The Nixon Administration’s Approach to Engagement with France in the Middle East Settlement in 1969–1971

Based on previously unpublished archival documents, the article analyzes the strategy and tactics of the administration of President Richard Nixon in relations with France as part of the Middle East settlement in 1969—1971. The problem is considered as a particular example of the development by the leader of the Western bloc of mechanisms of cooperation and manipulation of his key ally. The purpose of the article is to assess the true motives and effectiveness of Washington’s interaction with Paris in the framework of the so-called “quadripartite initiative” (USA, USSR, France, Great Britain). Washington received an occasion to improve relations with the French and was also not averse to having such a format as a disguise and springboard for its own diplomatic initiatives in the region. As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that the Nixon administration was able to use the format to establish inter- acttion with France during the described period after a decade of tension and strengthen its position in the Middle East. However, the advantages that the United States won were ultimately nullified by the struggle within the American elite, as a result of which the policy of curtailing interaction with France in the Middle East won the day. This laid the foundation for the crisis in the US-French relations and, in general, the US-European relations during the events of the Arab-Israeli war of 1973 and the energy crisis of 1973—1974.

Keywords

four-power talks, quadripartite initiative, Richard Nixon, Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou, Middle East, Arab-Israeli conflict, Middle East settlement

Received

02.06.2020

Publication date

06.08.2020

Number of characters

43028

Cite

GOST	Lakstygal I. The Nixon Administration’s Approach to Engagement with France in the Middle East Settlement in 1969–1971 // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2020. – Issue 4 C. 111-126 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640010328-8-1 (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010328-8
MLA	Lakstygal, Ilia "The Nixon Administration’s Approach to Engagement with France in the Middle East Settlement in 1969–1971." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 4 (2020):111-126. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010328-8
APA	Lakstygal I. (2020). The Nixon Administration’s Approach to Engagement with France in the Middle East Settlement in 1969–1971. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (4), pp.111-126 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010328-8

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