Question: who drew the borders in the middle east
Answer: Sykes -- Picot Agreement Sykes Picot Agreement Map , an enclosure in Paul Cambon 's letter to Sir Edward Grey , 9 May 1916 Created November 1915 -- March 1916 Presented 23 November 1917 by the Russian Bolshevik government Ratified 16 May 1916 Author ( s ) Mark Sykes François Georges - Picot Signatories Edward Grey Paul Cambon Purpose Defining proposed spheres of influence and control in the Middle East should the Triple Entente succeed in defeating the Ottoman Empire