French Threats and Sir John Malcom's Plan for Occupying Khārk Island (1798-1809 AD)

With the French occupation of Egypt in 1798 AD, the communication route of Britain to India was threatened and a new stage of conflict and competition began between the two countries in eastern Mediterranean, Ottoman, Iran, Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Although threats temporarily subsided with the French abandoning Egypt, but the continuous French expansionism in the east caused them persist as much potential. While Ottoman and Iran were coming into closer relationships with France and entering the European political circle, their territories were among the first to be met on the route to attack India. In 1808, after the Tilsit Treaty and the alliance between France and Russia, Sir John Malcom proposed the plan of occupation of Khark aimed at blocking the probable attack to India by a European army through Ottoman and southern Iran. This article deals with these threats, the British reaction and Malcom’s within the frameworks of European diplomacy and hence, French and British regional policies.