Sykes-Picot Agreement

Background

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret diplomatic agreement signed on May 16, 1916, at the height of the First World War. The agreement was between France and the United Kingdom with the consent of the Russian Empire.

Negotiations and Significance

The initial negotiations leading to the agreement took place between November 23, 1915, and January 3, 1916, when French diplomat François Georges-Picot and British diplomat Mark Sykes signed documents outlining an understanding between the foreign ministries of France, Britain, and Russia. The governments of these countries ratified the agreement on May 9 and 16, 1916.

Terms

The agreement defined the respective spheres of influence in the Middle East following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War. It effectively divided the Arab Ottoman provinces outside Arabia between France and Britain, with the assumption that the Triple Entente would defeat the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Parties Involved

* France
* United Kingdom
* Russian Empire (with approval)
* Italy (with approval)

Impact

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was part of a series of secret agreements aiming to partition the Ottoman Empire. The agreement aimed to define spheres of influence in Western Asia and divide the region, which controlled the area during World War I.

References

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