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The United Arab Republic (UAR) was a country that existed as a union between the republics
of Egypt and Syria, established on February 1, 1958 as a first step towards a
pan-Arab nation. It was created when a group of political and military leaders in Syria,
worried about the danger of a communist take-over in their country, turned to
Gamal Abdal Nasser's Egypt for help.
The union bound the two nations together into a united state with its capital in Cairo
and, following his 5 February 1958
nomination to the position, under the presidency of Nasser. Egyptian military and technical advisors poured into Syria and the
communist threat was defeated. Ironically, the new nation found itself supported by the very force it had feared. The Soviet Union, aiming to garner Cold
War allies, quickly began selling weapons to the fledgling republic, a practice it would continue even after the UAR
collapsed.
Flag of Syria - formerly of UAR
The UAR adopted a flag based on the flag of Egypt but with two stars
to represent the two parts. This continues to be the flag of Syria. The
flag of Iraq was similar but with three stars, representing the hope that
the UAR would extend. The flag of Sudan is also based on horizontal red,
white and black.
Ulimately, the Syrian people began to grow annoyed at being ruled from distant Cairo
and the leaders of Syria who were forced to live in Cairo felt disconnected from their sources of power. There was also
widespread arrogance on the part of the Egyptians in Syria, many of whom treated Syria as a de facto colony of Egypt.
The UAR collapsed in 1961 after a coup d'état in Syria. Egypt, now alone in the United Arab Republic, continued to use the name until the death
of Nasser in 1971.
The United Arab States was a much looser confederation, established between the UAR and North Yemen. It lasted from 1958 to 1961.
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