A Deal Made Before Victory
Months before the First World War reached its conclusion, Britain, France, and Russia held covert discussions on how to divide the territories of the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Between November 1915 and March 1916, British diplomat Sir Mark Sykes and French diplomat François Georges-Picot negotiated the terms of a secret agreement that would shape the modern Middle East.
Though the outcome of the war was still uncertain, the Allies were confident of victory and sought to ensure their strategic and economic interests were preserved.
The Map and the Agreement
The resulting treaty, known as the Sykes–Picot Agreement, was formalized in a letter dated May 16, 1916, from British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey to French Ambassador Paul Cambon. The agreement outlined that Britain would take control of southern Iraq, Jordan, and Haifa, while France would claim northern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and parts of southeastern Turkey.
Palestine, excluding Haifa and Acre, was to be placed under international administration. The deal assigned each power specific zones for direct control and influence, and it also delineated mutual economic privileges and political arrangements.
A Secret Revealed
Russia had initially endorsed the agreement, but after the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917, the contents of the secret treaty were uncovered in tsarist archives. The documents were published by the new Soviet government, revealing the extent of British and French plans for the region.
The disclosure contradicted earlier promises made by the British to Arab leaders, including those relayed by T. E. Lawrence, that Arabs would be granted independence in exchange for supporting the Allied war effort. The revelation created diplomatic tensions and disillusionment among Arab allies.
Aftermath and Endorsement
Following the end of the war, the territorial arrangements in the Sykes–Picot Agreement were largely upheld. The San Remo Conference of 1920 confirmed the division of mandates, and the League of Nations ratified them in 1922. Britain established mandates over Palestine and Iraq, while France gained control of Syria and Lebanon.
Although the agreement was designed to consider religious and ethnic divisions, its use of geometric borders failed to reflect the complex demographic realities on the ground. The consequences of the Sykes–Picot Agreement continued to influence geopolitical developments in the Middle East throughout the 20th century.
Months before the First World War ended, Britain, France, and Russia secretly planned to divide the Ottoman Empire.
While the war raged on, diplomats met behind closed doors to map a new Middle East—one not promised to its people, but drawn by foreign hands in advance…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/F5wte7clp2
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) June 3, 2025