Securing the Middle East: The Eisenhower Doctrine of 1957

Abstract

The Eisenhower Doctrine of 1957 declared that the United States would distribute economic and military aid and, if necessary, use military force to stop the spread of communism in the Middle East. Eisenhower found it difficult to convince leading Arab states or Israel to endorse the doctrine's purpose or usefulness. Nonetheless, he applied the doctrine in 1957‐58 by dispensing economic aid to shore up the Kingdom of Jordan, by encouraging Syria's neighbors to consider military operations against it, and by sending U.S. troops into Lebanon to prevent a radical revolution from sweeping over that country. The doctrine consisted of a major commitment by the United States to the security and stability of the Middle East and signaled a new level of U.S. resolve to exert influence in international affairs. By issuing the doctrine, Eisenhower raised the prospect that the United States would fight in the Middle East and accepted responsibilities in the region that the United States would retain for decades to come.

Soğuk Savaş Düzeninin Sosyal Politikaları: Bir Yumuşak Güç Unsuru Olarak Yakın ve Orta Doğu Çalışma Enstitüsü ve Türkiye’nin Bölgesel Rolü

“…(Davison, 1960, s.665). Eisenhower doktrininin ana fikrinin "Orta Doğu ülkelerine askeri ve ekonomik yardım" olduğunu hatırlayacak olursak (Hahn, 2006), Soğuk Savaşın bu noktadan sonra artık bir Orta Doğu boyutu kazandığını tahmin edebiliriz. (Laqueur, 2016).…”

The Special Relationship: The US, Great Britain and Egypt over the Suez Canal

“…Eisenhower believed that it would be detrimental for US's interests to declare war against General Nasser. Therefore he used political and economic methods to force the attackers to the desist (Hahn, 2006). It would have been disturbing implications for America to get control of the Canal.…”

“…Later it was changed due to the different environment in the region and the greater involvement of the Soviets with the Arab world. Therefore he used the economic and political lever to pressurise Britain and France to desist (Hahn, 2006). He took immediate action when he heard of the British attack.…”

Shifting Currents: Dwight Eisenhower and the Dynamic of Presidential Opportunity Structure

“…Beyond that, when he decided to oppose the actions by the French and British, he assured their demise as effective external players in the region. This left him with little choice but to declare the Eisenhower Doctrine, which embraced American responsibility to prop up pro‐Western rulers (Hahn , 39).…”