-Relations Between Egypt and the United States of America in the 1950s

It is important to bear in mind the fact that when we speak of 'Egypt's policy in the 1950s', or of 'Egyptian-US relations' during this period, we are in effect referring to the policy of President Nasser. He was his own decision-maker and relied only on a marginal input from his advisers. He had no inner cabinet, or equivalent of the US National Security Council. He did occasion- ally consult key personalities, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he did convene the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) from time to time. However, he used them more as sound- ing boards, rather than as instruments for policy guidance. For most of the time in question, the RCC simply rubber-stamped his decisions, especially after 1954 when Nasser had come to dominate the political system. In short, one can say that Nasser was his own man and charted the course of Egypt's foreign policy with little reference to others. The domestic and the regional factors which he was obliged to take into consideration in order to maintain this position of supremacy help to explain much of his foreign policy, including the relationship with the US.