The British Economic Interests in Mesopotamia 1914-1918: A Study of Securing Oil, Trade, and Commercial Path

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between British economic interests, oil exploration, commerce, and imperial policy in Mesopotamia from 1914 to 1918. It focuses on the reasons behind British involvement, strategies used to achieve economic dominance, and the repercussions on the region's economic and political landscape. The study uses a historical analysis approach, examining key events like the Mesopotamia campaign, the Gallipoli campaign, and the Sykes-Picot Agreement. The British government's interest in Mesopotamia was primarily driven by economic considerations, particularly the discovery of oil in Abadan. The British government sought to secure commercial areas like the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea to protect its oil interests and maintain control over trade routes. The paper also highlights the contentious debates between Great Britain and France regarding the division of the Near East for economic ambitions, culminating in the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916. The paper underscores the complex relationship between British economic interests, imperial strategy, and the emergence of the oil industry in Mesopotamia, emphasizing its enduring impact on the region's economic, social, and political development.