Libyan politics between the pressures of Western alliances and attempts at rapprochement with the Eastern bloc at the beginning of the Cold War 1955-1960

Abstract

The Soviet Union began looking to establish relations with Middle Eastern countries as early as 1955, due to the changes that prevailed on the international scene. Since the Potsdam Conference in 1945, Soviet demands clashed with American and British ambitions in the Middle East, especially regarding the issue of trusteeship over Libya. The situation worsened after the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East and the discovery of oil and gas in the region. All these political changes contributed significantly to altering the Soviet Union's view of the region in general, and its attempt to establish a foothold like the United States, particularly at the beginning of the Cold War. After Libya established diplomatic relations with the Soviets, the United States and Britain increased their political efforts in Libya to remove the Soviet presence from Libya. The study aims to clarify the Libyan position on the international and regional changes produced by the conflict between the Eastern and Western blocs in Libya in particular and the Middle East in general.