Suez Crisis (1956)

The Suez Crisis, also known as the Second Arab-Israeli War or the Tripartite Aggression, was a major international conflict that…

By Staff , in Historical Events in Egypt , at October 7, 2024 Tags: 1956, conflicts, egypt

Find Cheap Textbooks - Save on New & Used Textbooks at AbeBooks.com

The Suez Crisis, also known as the Second Arab-Israeli War or the Tripartite Aggression, was a major international conflict that took place in 1956. The crisis centered around the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and is vital for global trade, particularly for the shipment of oil. The crisis began when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal, prompting a military response from Britain, France, and Israel. The crisis highlighted the waning influence of European powers in the Middle East and the rising significance of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Background and Causes
The Importance of the Suez Canal:
The Suez Canal was constructed between 1859 and 1869 by the Suez Canal Company, a joint French-British enterprise, and had long been a vital international waterway. It drastically reduced travel time between Europe and Asia, making it particularly important for the transportation of oil from the Middle East to Europe.
By the 1950s, the Suez Canal was still largely controlled by British and French interests, although it was located in Egyptian territory. Egypt, under President Gamal Abdel Nasser, sought to assert greater control over the canal and its revenues.

Rising Tensions in the Middle East:
Nasser, a charismatic and popular leader in the Arab world, had come to power in 1952 after the overthrow of Egypt’s monarchy. He advocated pan-Arab nationalism and sought to reduce Western influence in the region. Nasser’s policies, including his refusal to align with either the Western or Soviet blocs during the Cold War, put him at odds with Britain, France, and Israel.
The Cold War backdrop was crucial to the Suez Crisis. Nasser had cultivated a non-aligned stance but accepted military aid from the Soviet Union, angering the United States and its European allies.
The situation was further complicated by tensions between Egypt and Israel. Egypt had imposed a blockade on Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran, heightening Israeli concerns about Nasser’s growing power.

Nationalization of the Suez Canal (July 1956):
The immediate cause of the Suez Crisis was Nasser’s decision to nationalize the Suez Canal on July 26, 1956. Nasser made this move after the United States and Britain withdrew their offer to fund the construction of the Aswan High Dam, a major Egyptian infrastructure project. The nationalization was seen as a bold assertion of Egyptian sovereignty and a direct challenge to British and French interests in the region.
Nasser declared that the revenues from the canal would be used to fund the Aswan Dam. The nationalization alarmed Britain and France, who relied on the canal for their oil supplies and feared the loss of their influence in the Middle East.

The Crisis: Military Intervention
The Secret Meeting and the Sèvres Protocol:
In response to Nasser’s nationalization of the canal, Britain and France sought a military solution to regain control of the waterway. They found a willing ally in Israel, which wanted to weaken Egypt, its main regional adversary.
In October 1956, representatives from Britain, France, and Israel secretly met in Sèvres, France, where they formulated a plan known as the Sèvres Protocol. According to the plan, Israel would invade the Sinai Peninsula, giving Britain and France a pretext to intervene under the guise of separating the warring parties and safeguarding the canal.

Israeli Invasion of Sinai (October 29, 1956):
On October 29, 1956, Israel launched Operation Kadesh, invading the Sinai Peninsula and advancing toward the Suez Canal. Israel’s objectives were to open the Straits of Tiran for Israeli shipping and to weaken Egyptian military forces, which had been threatening Israel’s security.
As per the plan, Britain and France issued an ultimatum on October 30, calling for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Egyptian and Israeli forces from the canal zone. When Nasser refused, Britain and France launched air strikes on Egyptian positions and began preparing for a ground invasion.

British and French Invasion (November 1956):
On November 5, 1956, British and French paratroopers landed at Port Said, near the northern end of the Suez Canal. Their military intervention aimed to secure control of the canal and remove Nasser from power.
The invasion initially succeeded militarily, as British and French forces quickly captured Port Said and parts of the canal. However, their actions provoked widespread international condemnation and led to a diplomatic crisis.

International Reactions and Diplomatic Pressure
U.S. and Soviet Responses:
The United States, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was furious with Britain and France for launching the invasion without consulting Washington. The U.S. saw the invasion as destabilizing the Middle East and feared that it might escalate Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union, under Nikita Khrushchev, also strongly condemned the invasion. The Soviets threatened to intervene militarily on behalf of Egypt and suggested launching missile attacks on Britain and France. Although these threats were not carried out, they heightened tensions between the superpowers.
Faced with intense diplomatic pressure from both the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Britain and France found themselves isolated. President Eisenhower, in particular, exerted significant pressure on Britain to withdraw by threatening economic sanctions and withdrawing support for the British pound during a financial crisis.

United Nations Intervention:
The United Nations played a central role in resolving the crisis. On November 2, 1956, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of invading forces, and the establishment of a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to monitor the situation.
Under intense international pressure, Britain, France, and Israel agreed to a ceasefire on November 6, 1956, just days after the ground invasion had begun. British and French forces began withdrawing from Egypt by December 1956, and the UNEF was deployed to oversee the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Sinai Peninsula.

Aftermath and Consequences
Nasser’s Triumph:
Although Egypt suffered military defeats during the Suez Crisis, the political outcome was seen as a significant victory for Nasser. He emerged from the crisis as a hero in the Arab world, having successfully stood up to European powers and maintained control of the Suez Canal.
Nasser’s prestige in the Middle East soared, and his vision of Arab nationalism gained wider support. The crisis also weakened the influence of Britain and France in the region, while Egypt continued to play a leading role in Arab politics.

Decline of British and French Influence:
The Suez Crisis marked the beginning of the end of Britain’s and France’s roles as dominant colonial powers in the Middle East. The crisis exposed their weakened status on the global stage and underscored their dependence on the United States for political and economic support.
For Britain, the Suez Crisis was a humiliating episode that revealed the limits of its power in the post-World War II era. It contributed to the decline of British influence in the Middle East and accelerated the decolonization process in the region.

Cold War Implications:
The Suez Crisis reinforced the role of the United States and the Soviet Union as the two superpowers that would dominate international politics during the Cold War. The U.S. demonstrated its leadership by stepping in to resolve the crisis and prevent further conflict, while the Soviet Union gained influence in the Arab world by supporting Egypt.
The crisis also highlighted the growing importance of the United Nations in mediating international conflicts, as the UN’s intervention helped bring about a peaceful resolution.

UN Peacekeeping and the Suez Canal:
The deployment of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) marked one of the first successful uses of UN peacekeeping forces. The UNEF helped stabilize the situation in the Sinai Peninsula and remained there until 1967, when it was withdrawn prior to the Six-Day War.
Egypt maintained control of the Suez Canal, and it was reopened for international shipping in 1957 after the British and French withdrawal.