The Power of Neutrality: Lebanon as an Oil Transit Country

This article examines the role of Lebanon as an oil‐transit country by means of two case studies from the early 1970s, a few years before the Lebanese civil war and the collapse of the state. The first involves the Tapline Affair, in which Syria stopped the flow of oil in the Saudi‐Lebanon line in 1970. Lebanon found itself forced to maneuver among Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the American oil company that had built and was operating the line. The second case study involves the nationalization of the Iraqi Petroleum Company (IPC) installations by the Baghdad government in June 1972. Again, Lebanon found itself between East and West, but also having to confront the progressive Arab states. Furthermore, Lebanese free‐market principles were at risk, since leftist elements in Lebanon called for the nationalization of IPC installations as well. Its neutrality was put to the test, and Lebanon had to find its way among the various antagonists.