The Baghdad Pact, established in 1955 through a treaty signed by Iraq and Turkey, was a defensive alliance designed to protect the region from the threat of Soviet expansion, formed during the context of the Cold War. The alliance was rooted in the alignment of global powers into two major camps: the Soviet-led Eastern bloc and the Western bloc led by the United States. With support from Western nations, the pact aimed to contain communist influence in the Middle East, but this goal created an environment of tension and suspicion among countries in the region.

Over time, the stability of the pact faltered, particularly following Iraq's withdrawal in 1959, which prompted the relocation of the organization's headquarters from Baghdad to Ankara. The remaining member states reorganized under the name CENTO (Central Treaty Organization). However, subsequent withdrawals of member countries for various political reasons further weakened the alliance, ultimately leading to its formal dissolution in 1979. This decline reflected not only the instability within the alliance but also the shifting geopolitical dynamics of the region as Cold War tensions evolved.

The formation and eventual disbandment of the Baghdad Pact and its successor, CENTO, underscore the complexities of international alliances during the Cold War era. These developments highlight the challenges of maintaining unity among diverse nations with differing national interests, and they illustrate the broader implications for geopolitical strategy in the Middle East, demonstrating the difficulties faced by Western powers in navigating regional politics amidst the rise of competing ideologies.