United Arab Republic

Arab Nationalism and the Recognition Decision

The proposed Egyptian–Syrian union forced foreign governments to respond to the appeal of Arab nationalism. In February 1958, Dulles told Eisenhower that Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia feared its implications but had offered no common response. He argued that withholding American recognition would offend nationalist opinion and contradict Washington’s stated position on Arab unity. [4]

Representation of a Union

Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic on 22 February 1958. The United States recognized the new union three days later. Its capital was Cairo, where the American embassy continued; the American mission in Damascus became a consulate general. [1]

In Washington, Mostafa Kamel represented the United Arab Republic as ambassador. Before presenting credentials on 11 August 1958, he met Assistant Secretary William Rountree with Amin Mouftah, a minister at the UAR embassy. Kamel defended nonalignment and argued that Arab nationalism could coexist with legitimate American interests. He asked for regular meetings on particular questions, and Rountree welcomed them. [2]

Economic Negotiations and the Union's Limits

Kamel's discussions combined economic requests with political disagreement. At a September 1958 meeting, Rountree described plans to resume school feeding, support a Delta road project, and make an American dredge available. The embassy had submitted the dredge request in August. Kamel welcomed the economic steps but argued that disputes over Lebanon and arms supplies to Israel remained more consequential. Assistance could improve the atmosphere, he said, without resolving those political differences. [3]

Syria left the union in 1961. Egypt nevertheless retained the name United Arab Republic until 1971, and its Washington mission continued to use that name while representing Egypt alone. [1]

Egypt severed relations with the United States in 1967 and restored them in 1974. [1]

Related Reading

• Egypt and the United States