THE COMMUNIST BLOC ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFENSIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-02771R000300450001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 67
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 1, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For 13elesse ? 02771R000300450001-6
.THE COMMUNIST BLOC ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
OFFENSIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
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Approved For Release 2000/ ; IA-RDP78-02771R000300450001-6
Approved For Release 2000/05/05 : CIA-RDP78-02771R000300450001-6
THE costuNtsrBLOC ECONO1XC AND CU
OFFENSIVE tN THE MIDDLE EAST
Operational Intelligence Support Division
Operational Services
April 1959
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Conten
NTRODUCT 0
A. Poesib11jti? for Subversion
1. Subversion of Host Government by Direct
Action
. Clandestine Opportunities
Overt Activities
as a By-Product
of
page 1
3
14

4
Collusion with Host Ciovernznerlt8 in ubvorive 5
Activities
Establishinga Base for Fut $ubverzive 7
Efforts
Po tical and Strategicactors
General Characteristics of t
A. Organization
B. Geographical Focus
C Timetable for Aehievernent
D. Methods and Tactics
1,, Negotiations
2. Implementation
Selective Nature of Activities
F. Presence of Key Bloc Experts
Off naive
9
9
10
10
11
11
16
17
19
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PART II: The Communist Offensive in Action: Growth
of Bloc Influence in Yemen
A. Background
I. Yemenis Strategic 3inif
nist Bloc
2. Communist Exploitation of
Problems and Aspirations
3, Soviet-Yemeni Relations* 1927-1954
B. Communist-Yemeni Negotiations
1, The Initial Communist Approach to Yemen
2. Subsequent Negotiations
C. Bloc Activities in Yemen
1. Arms Deliveries
2. Selective Bloc Activities
3. The Role of Key Bloc Experts in Yemen
D. Balance Sheet of Communist Bloc Accomplishments
in Yemen
e to the Commu
Yemeni Attitudes,
SOURCES
24
24
25
28
29
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30
3
36
37
45
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?itaiwaosomook?
(mac AND CULTURAL
N tR1 MIDDLE EAST
This atudy deals with the Courdst economic and cultural
offensive. The Soviet Unionts dynamic effort to expand con-
tacts with the non-Communist World through trade, aid and
eultural offers has been accelerating rapidly since 1954.
The deciaton to make this effort was first emphasized by the
MOseow Economic Conference of April 1952. Since then, most
Sino-Soviet Moe countries have Joined in the campaign with
Party-line uniformity of procedures and tactics.
The new Communist offensive is global in scope. Nearly
non-Communist countries, including the Western Powers,
received at leaat speoimen trade and cultural exchange
vs. The principal targets, however, are the eeonomically
rdeveloped areas of the non-Communist World. Here, the
ly advertised laid without stringa" haa been used as the
effective instrument for the extension of Communist in-
nee.
The Conunt3t effort now has reached it most advanced
of accomplishment in the Middle Eaat-partic11ar1y in
nistan, Egypt, Syria and Yemen. Signtfit&nt contacts
e been established in Iran, TUrkey and Pakistan. The
rn of CoMmunist economic and cultural activities in the
e Eaat resembles that established in South and Southeast
Nascent Communist efforts in Africa and South America
developing along similar lines.
Almost invariably the acceptance of a Communist economic
arid cultural offer by an underdeveloped country resu1tt in
the sending of Soviet or other moo experts into the area.
The presence of these experts in non-Communist areas suggests
new methods of creating subversive potential. The extent to
Ungfifita""h6mm
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which Soviet Bloc experts in the Middle st have partiei-
p&ted in subversive activities to date 13 a vital question
for the Free world.
Soviet politiciansand diplomats emphatze the propa-
ganda line that!
la They are engaged in long-range campaign to sell
Communism to future &ereration2 on an open and
competitive basis.
2. They are fostering "neutralis arnon smaller non-
Communist states as the most effective political
stance for the preservation of world peace.
vents in the Middle East* however* suggest that the
ta have more immediate and practical zoals namely;
1. To alter the East-West balance of power by creating
an international. united front of Communist and non-
Communist governments.
To achieve intexediate pon
able to themaelves.
cl
ectives favor-
To achieve strategic eonomicand military objectives
either directly or by the more