ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a balanced understanding of the key military and political considerations. It seeks to throw light upon the delicate balance between France’s military capabilities and its political aims in the Middle East during the First World War. By the year 1918, France’s position in the Middle East appeared increasingly insecure. In the context of the Middle East, Britain’s involvement in the Levant and Arabia aroused suspicions about its intentions in the minds of its allies, as did France’s involvement in Greece. While the British Official History written following the end of the war applauded the use of a multinational expeditionary force, they noted that ‘alliance warfare complicated war strategy’ as Britain and France struggled to coordinate the campaigns in Salonika and Palestine. The Middle East theatre, while serving to broaden the field of consideration, also imposed on all belligerents the need to prioritise their manpower and resources.
