Farouk was pro-Axis throughout the war although he was bound by treaty to Great Britain. He managed to steer a middle course for most of the war. He believed that the Axis powers would give Egypt her independence and he followed a policy of being nominally pro-British but retained a pro-Nazi Cabinet. When the Axis powers were on the brink of defeat Egypt declared war on Germany and Italy in February 1945 so that she could join the United Nations.