Anglo-Russian Entente - The Great Game

The Great Game

During the 19th century, Britain had firm control over India and considered that control a top priority. However, Russia had been wielding its imperial sword as well by expanding south and east into Central Asia toward India. “The Great Game” refers to the rivalry between Britain and Russia over territorial and political control in Central Asia. The middle zone of land that was located between India and Russian holdings—namely Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet—was a highly coveted region.

Britain feared that a Russian presence might result in a Russian invasion—a situation that might challenge the British hold on the colony. In essence, the British aimed to keep “Russian influence from the borders of British India.” On the other hand, Russia wanted more land on its southern border, namely in Afghanistan, and feared a British surge towards their territories. Furthermore, by the 20th century a new issue had arisen, and an influential British official, George Nathaniel Curzon, pushed for British security of Middle Eastern petroleum.

This push only compounded the issue, and kept Britain diplomatically neurotic of every Russian move. Using tactics similar to its economic marriage to Iran, Britain took Tibet under its wing by first invading it in 1903 and then making it a trade partner, ultimately allowing Tibet to accumulate a large debt and forfeit even more power over to Britain. Though each of the Great Powers was spared from outright war, “The Great Game” was a constant factor in Britain and Russia's political psyche.

However, with the imminent rise of Germany in the early 20th century, the two powers found it in their best interest to settle their differences and delineate such in writing. A serious rivalry such as “The Great Game” would have seriously hindered the Triple Entente in confronting German expansionism and in later achieving victory in World War I.