"The International Power Struggle over the Arabian Gulf during the period (1871 CE - 1913 CE): "Competition between the Ottoman Empire and Britain over Qatar as a model"

Abstract

If the Ottoman Empire began to appear in the Gulf by reaching Basra in 1541, its actual impact on the Gulf and Qatar did not begin until the late nineteenth century, specifically since the arrival of the Al-Ahsa campaign in 1871, and until the signing of the 1913 agreement between Britain and the Ottoman Empire, which led to the Ottoman Empire withdrawing from competition for Qatar and the Gulf, leaving Britain to act alone in the region.This research study will focus on the struggle of international powers over the Arabian Gulf in a specific period between 1871 and 1913, where the study will concentrate on the competition between the Ottoman Empire and Britain over Qatar as a model for this conflict.The study indicates that the studied period witnessed intense competition between the two states regarding the Arabian Gulf region, especially the strategic importance of Qatar for both parties.The study reveals that the Ottoman Empire sought to regain its influence in the area and achieve economic gains through maritime trade, while Britain aimed to establish its colonial rule over the region and control the vital waterway of the Arabian Gulf for its trade.In this context, the study will investigate Britain's use of the policy of differentiation and control over the local sheikhs in Qatar, and how it was able to sign agreements with them to achieve its goal of controlling the region, while the Ottoman Empire during this period was unable to confront those policies and challenges. Additionally, this conflict was not only between the Ottoman Empire and Britain but also included competition between other European countries such as France for resources and trade routes in the region.The importance of this study lies in analyzing the events and linking them to the contemporary reality, to understand current conflicts and their impact on the region. Moreover, it highlights the importance of understanding these conflicts to comprehend current and future international policies in the region. In general, studying the struggle of international powers over the Arabian Gulf in a specific period is a crucial task to understand regional and international history, and it reveals many reasons and challenges faced by the region during that time.