The Sykes-Picot Agreement

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret 1916 treaty between Britain and France during World War I, outlining how they would divide the Ottoman Empire’s lands in the Middle East after the war. They planned to partition territories into zones controlled respectively by each power, with some areas under international administration. The agreement conflicted with promises made to Arab leaders for independence, leading to distrust. Its revelation in 1917 fueled Arab nationalist movements and shaped modern Middle Eastern borders, often viewed as a symbol of colonial interference and a betrayal of Arab aspirations.