Sykes-Picot Agreement

The Sykes-Picot Agreement, made in 1916 during World War I, was a secret deal between Britain and France, with Russia's consent, to divide the Ottoman Empire territories in the Middle East after the war. The goal was to outline zones of influence and control, disregarding the ethnic and religious identities of the local populations. This agreement laid the groundwork for the modern borders of countries like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, often leading to long-lasting conflicts, as many communities felt divided or marginalized by the newly imposed boundaries.