Since the 17th century, under czar and commissar alike, a central facet of Russian foreign policy has been the drive toward the Middle East. Nicholas II almost secured both sides of the Dardanelles link to the Mediterranean with British help in World War I, but the Russian Revolution ended that. Stalin made an effort during World War II but was rebuffed. Not until Nikita Khrushchev came to absolute power in 1955 did the Soviet push begin to make headway.
Key to the Khrushchevian effort was Egypt, whose President Gamal Abdel Nasser he...
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