The Suez Crisis (1956)

Background:

• The Suez Canal in Egypt was a vital waterway for international trade, especially for oil shipments to Europe.

• It had been controlled by British and French interests since the 19th century.

• In July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, angering Britain and France, who saw it as a threat to their economic and strategic interests.

The Conflict:

• In late October 1956, Israel invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

• Shortly afterward, Britain and France issued an ultimatum and then launched air strikes and a naval invasion, claiming they were intervening to separate the warring sides and protect the canal.

• In reality, the invasion was pre-planned in secret coordination with Israel (known as the Sèvres Protocol) to remove Nasser from power.

Aftermath:

• The invasion was met with strong international opposition, especially from the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations.

• Under intense diplomatic pressure, particularly from the U.S., Britain, France, and Israel withdrew their forces by early 1957.

• Although militarily successful in the short term, the crisis was a political disaster for Britain and France. It marked the end of their status as global superpowers and underscored the growing dominance of the U.S. and the USSR in world affairs.