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The 1956 Suez Canal Conflict: A Turning Point in Middle Eastern Geopolitics

Introduction:

The Suez Crisis was a military conflict between Egypt, Britain, Israel, and France. In 1956, the Egyptian government seized control of the Suez Canal from British- and French-owned companies. The incident had a significant impact on U.S. relations with its Middle Eastern and European allies. Nasser nationalized the canal when the United States and Britain withdrew from a previous agreement to finance the Aswan High Dam project. The United States was concerned about Nasser's decision but sought a diplomatic solution to the problem. However, Britain and France saw the situation as a threat to their national interests and demanded a military solution with the cooperation of Israel. As a result, Israeli forces invaded the Sinai and defeated Egyptian forces, securing Israel's strategic control of the Straits of Tiran. In response to this attack, Britain and France mobilized their troops and launched an offensive. To prevent destruction, the United States and the Soviet Union jointly proposed a ceasefire. Britain and France agreed to this proposal, but Israel refused. Later, under pressure from the United States, Israel was forced to withdraw its troops. However, fundamental differences between Israel and its neighbors remained unresolved, which later led to renewed conflict.

Table of contents:

• What is Suez Crisis?
• Background of Suez Crisis
• Timeline of Suez Crisis
• Importance of Suez Crisis
• Effects of Suez Crisis

• What is Suez Crisis?

On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser decided to nationalize the British- and French-owned Suez Canal Company. The decision threatened the British and French stockholdings in the company. The nationalization of Suez gave Western countries access to Middle Eastern oil but cut off oil supplies to European countries. Nasser nationalized the canal when Britain and the United States withdrew their previous agreement to finance the Aswan Dam project. But Nasser's arms deal with Czechoslovakia and recognition of the Chinese government's friendly stance towards the Communist bloc led the United States and Britain to withdraw their financial support. As a result, there was no way left to subsidize the construction costs of the canal except using the tolls collected from ships passing through the Suez Canal as revenue. The dam issue led Britain and France to secretly plan a joint military operation in cooperation with the Israeli government.

• Background of Suez Crisis:

Opened in 1869, the Suez Canal was an important trade route between Europe and Asia. It controlled two-thirds of Europe's oil supplies. After becoming president of Egypt, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company on July 26, 1956. Nasser took the initiative to finance the Aswan Dam project to demonstrate Egypt's independence to the European colonial powers. It played a significant role in the Cold War and caused political tensions between Egypt, Britain, and France. They secretly proposed a joint military operation with Israel. Israel planned to invade Sinai and advance towards the Suez Canal Zone. Israel voluntarily agreed to the conflict in order to gain control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. When the conflict broke out, a UN special force was deployed to Egypt to resolve the crisis. Egypt won the conflict. The British and French withdrew their troops from Egyptian territory in late 1956. Then, in early 1957, the United States forced the Israeli government to withdraw its troops.

• Timeline of Suez crisis:
• July 26, 1956: Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, controlled by a French company, which causes discontent between Britain and France.
• October 22, 1956: France and Britain, with the cooperation of Israel, secretly plan an invasion of Egypt's Sinai.
• October 29, 1956: Israel launches a surprise attack on the Sinai Peninsula.
• October 30, 1956: Britain and France issue an ultimatum to both Israel and Egypt to cease hostilities.
• October 31, 1956: British and French forces begin bombing Egyptian military and infrastructure sites.
• November 5, 1956: Israeli forces defeat Egyptian military forces in the Sinai Peninsula, achieving victory.
• November 6, 1956: The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution calling for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of the invading forces.
• November 7, 1956: The United Nations deploys an emergency force to supervise the ceasefire and withdrawal of troops.
• March 1957: Egypt regains control of the Suez Canal when Israeli forces withdraw their troops from the Sinai Peninsula.
• Effects of Suez Crisis:

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was one of the most significant episodes in British history since 1945. Domestically, it led to a major political collapse and economic crisis in Britain, which further complicated Middle Eastern politics internationally. It led to a deterioration in Britain's diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth and the US-UK 'special relationship.' The United Nations threatened airstrikes on Egypt to prevent civilian casualties. This cost the country billions of pounds. US President Eisenhower pressured the International Monetary Fund to withhold financial aid from Britain. As a result, British Prime Minister Anthony Edenton was reluctantly forced to accept a UN-proposed ceasefire. The United Nations Peacekeeping Emergency Force (UNEF) was deployed to Egypt to end the conflict, which personally humiliated Britain and Edenton. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev threatened to send troops to Egypt in addition to invading London, drawing NATO into the conflict. Eden resigned as Prime Minister less than two years after taking office due to severe internal pressure and ill health. The Suez Crisis increased Soviet influence in Egypt. Khrushchev's intervention on Egypt's behalf helped establish the Soviet Union as a natural ally of the Arab states. It emboldened Arab nationalists and enabled Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser to support rebel groups seeking independence in British territories throughout the Middle East.

• How does Suez Crisis end?

A ceasefire was declared on 6 November 1956 under the support of the United Nations, which forced Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw their troops from Egypt under international pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union. A peacekeeping force (UNEF) was deployed to ensure this. By 22 December 1956, British and French troops had withdrawn from Egyptian territory, but Israel kept its troops in Gaza until 19 March 1957. The United States eventually forced the Israeli government to withdraw its troops, and Egypt regained full control of the Suez Canal.

Conclusion:

The Suez conflict fundamentally changed the regional balance of power. Although the conflict was a military defeat for Egypt, it enhanced Nasser's status as a defender of nationalism in the Arab world. The United Nations took a greater role in maintaining peacekeeping forces in the Sinai. This resulted in Israel being expelled from Egyptian territory gained in the war and regaining access to Tiran. In the aftermath, Britain and France lost influence in the region and were forced to withdraw their troops from the Canal Zone. The war temporarily worsened relations between the United States and its British and French allies. In return, the Soviets began providing arms and advisors to the Syrian military. The United States played a moderating role in the crisis by improving its relations with Egypt. As fundamental differences between Israel and its neighbors remained unresolved, the United States found itself embroiled in a new conflict. The crisis largely marked the decline of British and French colonial influence and the rise of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser as the leader of the Arab world and demonstrated the growing dominance of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.