The Middle East was contested and partitioned by the British and French, while Southeast Asia was carved up between the British, Dutch and French.
ðə mˈɪdəl ˈiːst wʌz kəntˈɛstᵻd ænd pɑːɹtˈɪʃənd baɪ ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ ænd fɹˈɛntʃ, wˌaɪl sˈaʊθiːst ˈeɪʒə wʌz kˈɑːɹvd ˌʌp bᵻtwˌiːn ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ, dˈʌtʃ ænd fɹˈɛntʃ.