The Suez Canal Crisis The Suez Canal, a 101-mile-long artificial waterway, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas was officially opened on November 17, 1869. With the support of French leadership and British financial support, the 10-year construction of the Suez Canal was completed in 1869 at the emergence of modern Europe and the growth of world industry, commerce, and entrepreneurship. Upon completion, the project immediately bridged the trade-economic divide aimed at expanding global trade along the fastest shipping route from Europe to Asia without having to go around the southern Cape of Africa. In 1875, the Egyptian government sold its shares of the Canal to Britain to resolve a foreign debt thereby confirming a Britain-France
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withdrew its financial aid for the building of Aswan High Dam. In order to secure funding for the Aswan project, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. This act brought a military intervention by British, French, and Israeli forces known as the tripartite collision. The three nations made in agreement in which Israel would initiate invasion by landing paratroopers in the Sinai Peninsula east of the Suez Canal. Expecting an Egyptian refusal, France and Britain would then intervene on the ground by issuing an ultimatum masked as an appeal to both parties to remove their forces from the canal. Nasser was relying on western powers in Egypt’s confrontation with communist aggression, but he also knew that military force might be required to defend his actions. Egyptian President Nasser, considered the embodiment of the Arab nationalism, pressed for an alliance of Arab state. In 1955, Nasser established military agreements with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan thereby extending his influence and combined military capabilities. Additionally, prior to seizing the canal, Nasser sent agents to assess British military readiness to measure potential response. On 29-30 October 1956, three months after the announcement of the nationalization of the Suez Canal and believing that Britain and France missed their opportunity to assault, Israel astonished Egyptian leaders by …show more content…
Britain and France, shareholders of the Suez Canal company were angered by the Nasser’s actions and felt that oil, global trade, and revenues were at risk. Britain, France, and Israel unified to take military action bringing the U.S. in direct confrontation with two important Cold War allies. Nasser, following an independent and provocative course bought weapons from Communist Czechoslovakia and extended diplomatic recognition to Communist China. The Nasser regime relying on U.S. intervention, not only risked the loss of U.S. support, it risked global tension among super powers, even risking World War III. Ultimately, Britain and France took serious risk and suffered in the political domain. The Egyptian army agonized battlefield defeats, but the failure of British-French invasion capitalized Nasser’s status as an Arab nationalist and Egypt emerged as the decisive winner from the
withdrew its financial aid for the building of Aswan High Dam. In order to secure funding for the Aswan project, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. This act brought a military intervention by British, French, and Israeli forces known as the tripartite collision. The three nations made in agreement in which Israel would initiate invasion by landing paratroopers in the Sinai Peninsula east of the Suez Canal. Expecting an Egyptian refusal, France and Britain would then intervene on the ground by issuing an ultimatum masked as an appeal to both parties to remove their forces from the canal. Nasser was relying on western powers in Egypt’s confrontation with communist aggression, but he also knew that military force might be required to defend his actions. Egyptian President Nasser, considered the embodiment of the Arab nationalism, pressed for an alliance of Arab state. In 1955, Nasser established military agreements with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan thereby extending his influence and combined military capabilities. Additionally, prior to seizing the canal, Nasser sent agents to assess British military readiness to measure potential response. On 29-30 October 1956, three months after the announcement of the nationalization of the Suez Canal and believing that Britain and France missed their opportunity to assault, Israel astonished Egyptian leaders by …show more content…
Britain and France, shareholders of the Suez Canal company were angered by the Nasser’s actions and felt that oil, global trade, and revenues were at risk. Britain, France, and Israel unified to take military action bringing the U.S. in direct confrontation with two important Cold War allies. Nasser, following an independent and provocative course bought weapons from Communist Czechoslovakia and extended diplomatic recognition to Communist China. The Nasser regime relying on U.S. intervention, not only risked the loss of U.S. support, it risked global tension among super powers, even risking World War III. Ultimately, Britain and France took serious risk and suffered in the political domain. The Egyptian army agonized battlefield defeats, but the failure of British-French invasion capitalized Nasser’s status as an Arab nationalist and Egypt emerged as the decisive winner from the