Abstract:

By the British withdrawal from the Persian Gulf in 1971, the Gulf Sheikhdoms who had been the British protectorates, declared their independences. Although Britain withdraw its military presence, substantial economic and strategic British colonial interests remained in the region based on the oil resources. The Arab-Israeli conflict, as the main problem of the Middle East, became the matter of central importance in the UK’s foreign policy and had implications on the relations between the UK and Gulf states. This essay evaluates the impact of the Arab-Israel conflict on shaping the British Policy in the Middle East with particular focus on Britain and Gulf States relations in 1971-1991 period.

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