Egypt - Part 1

While some countries were the settings of the ideological battle between the United States and the Soviet Union, directly targeted or affected by policies and areas of interest, others like Egypt found an opportunity to bend the situation to their own benefit. Former Egyptian president Gamal Adbel Nasser realized that the United States and the Soviet Union’s preoccupation with Cold War politics could be exploited; this would become his legacy as a non-alignment country in the Cold War. Consequently, Egypt’s ability to tactfully play both sides allowed them to negotiate better deals on military assistance, economic benefits, and gain political power.