ABSTRACT
The development of a Northern Tier Pact was the mission of the State Department. The new military alliances being sponsored by the Americans along the northern tier undoubtedly eased the path to the Anglo-Egyptian agreements of 1954. The Northern Tier policy inaugurated by John Foster Dulles was a significant point of departure for American policy in the Middle East and Asia. The decision to maintain a low-profile, behind-the-scenes role was motivated by the 'learning' of several 'lessons of history', primarily from experience with Egypt and Turkey. The Eisenhower administration appreciated that the new, American-sponsored 'defence' agreements would be likely to provoke 'strong Israeli opposition', and possibly exacerbate Arab-Israeli tensions, even to the extent of igniting another round of hostilities. On 24 February 1955, Turkey and Iraq set up the Baghdad Pact alliance. The Baghdad Pact completed the Northern Tier defence arrangements, which were to have replaced the traditional Egypt-centred strategy.
