THE SUEZ CRISIS

THE SUEZ CANAL

BRIEF HISTORY

The Suez canal is a large artificial canal in Egypt – 106km long and 300 metres wide at its narrowest point.

It links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.

Before it was built, goods were often offloaded and carried over land between the two seas.

‘West Bank’-Jordanian

Gaza Strip-Egyptian

Israel

Golan Heights-Syrian

EGYPT, 1949

Military was angry at being defeated by Israel and sought revenge.

Egypt closed the Suez canal and the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli ships in 1949, and continued to try to strangle Israeli trade this way.

Supported Arab Palestinians in the Gaza strip and enabled them to launch attacks into Israel.

•Canal had been important as the trade Canal had been important as the trade link between Britain (Europe) and India. link between Britain (Europe) and India. •Canal found a new role in oil Canal found a new role in oil transportation between Europe and the transportation between Europe and the Middle East.Middle East.

The Suez Canal

THE SUEZ CANAL

KING FAROUK I (1936-52)

The Thief of Cairo Pictured here with Arab friends, although he was friendlier with European leaders.

THE SUEZ CRISIS (1956) 1952 Army officers ‘The Free Officers Movement’ in Egypt

overthrew the King (Farouk) and put Gamal Nasser in power.

Nasser was anti-colonialist, and Arab nationalist. He also had ideas of pan-Arabism which won him much support from other Arab countries. Britain, and others, initially regarded him as a possible strong leader who might help to solve the Arab-Israeli crisis.

He managed to remove British influence over the Suez canal and won huge loans from Britain and America for the building of a dam (the Aswan High Dam).

He then, however, began arms trading with Communist countries. Britain and the USA were furious and cut his funding.

In retaliation Nasser promptly nationalized (took control of) the Suez Canal (1956) precipitating a crisis between Europe and Egypt.

GAMAL ABDEL NASSER

TIMELINE OF US-USSR POWER-PLAYS OVER ASWAN

9/55: Nasser announces Czech arms deal 12/55: US and Britain pledge $56 and $14 million

respectively towards construction of dam 5/56: Nasser recognizes communist China, which is

in direct conflict with Dulles’s policy of containment

6/56: Soviets offer Nasser $1,120,000,000 at 2% interest for the construction of the dam.

7/56: US State Dept announces withdrawal of financial support for dam project

7/56: Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, precipitating Suez Crisis

1958: USSR stepped in and funded the dam project and provided technicians and heavy machinery

The Aswan dam. In holding back one of the world’s longest rivers (the Nile) it created the world’s biggest reservoir at the time –Lake Nasser.

UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC (1958-71) Nasser’s idea to join Syria &

Egypt into one nation; precursor to creating a massive pan-Arab world led by him.

The idea won much approval, at first, from Arabs. It proved more difficult to keep all the diverse groups of Arabic people together, however, in the long run.

Syria left the union in 1961

Egypt continued to call itself UAR until 1971, just after Nasser’s death.

THE WAR PLAN.

THEATRE: Israel would attack Egypt, prompting the great regional powers of Britain and France to step in and separate the warring countries, thus returning the canal to their control.

THE WAR PLAN.

REAL PLAN: France approached Israel for military assistance

against the Egyptians: Britain & France would capture the canal and Israel would sweep across the Sinai peninsula pushing Arab people even further back from her borders.

Israel was eager to demonstrate her independence, and might, to all her enemies.

AN ANGLO-FRENCH TASK FORCE HEADS TOWARDS SUEZ.

British ‘V’ bombers follow the ships.

British Aircraft carriers head to the Suez canal.

NEW AMERICAN ‘SABRE’ JETS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNG ISRAELI AIR FORCE.

Egyptian soldiers defend the canal zone.

The Egyptians sink ships to block the canal completely.

Israeli tanks hurl themselves across the Sinai desert.

French and British paratroopers land from the air.

ISRAEL EXPANDS AT EGYPTIAN EXPENSE

SUEZ CANAL CRISIS POV

Egypt Nasser asserts

independence from Britain

Arab Self Determination and Unity (Pan Arabism)

Funds insurgents in other countries

Advance the army and economy of industry from WWII

No Israeli ships allowed

Israel Civil War and

Independence in 1949 Surrounded by enemies Supported by the USA Advanced military Protect themselves from

future Holocausts Punish Egypt for giving

Palestinian Guerrillas a base

SUEZ CANAL CRISIS POV

USA Influence in Middle East

Contain Communism Promote Capitalism and

democracy Protect Natural Resources

Oil Shipping lines

70 million in aid to build Aswan dam on the Nile Up 1/3 cultivatable land Up 1/2 Egypt's electric

power Flex Super Power

USSR Influence in Middle East

Promote Communism Prevent Capitalism

Assist Post Colonial States 1955 pledge to supply

military arms in return for cotton and rice

Flex Super Power

SUEZ CANAL CRISIS POV

France Protect its North African

Empire Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Re-establish dominance in International Relations

Punish Nasser for support of Algerian insurgency

Great Britain Keep control of Suez

Canal (74 years) or have Multinational control over the canal

Prime Minister Anthony Eden views Nasser as Hitler of the Middle East

Overthrow Nasser Maintain the Baghdad

Pact

UNITED NATIONS CALLED IN BY THE USA TO STOP THE WAR

•The USA found itself unable to support Britain and France. With Soviet The USA found itself unable to support Britain and France. With Soviet (USSR) support the United Nations was allowed to act.(USSR) support the United Nations was allowed to act.

•Watchful of the Soviet advance into Hungary the USA couldn’t take a moral Watchful of the Soviet advance into Hungary the USA couldn’t take a moral defence of Hungary and allow its own allies to walk into Egypt. Cold War defence of Hungary and allow its own allies to walk into Egypt. Cold War brinkmanship took precedence over the Middle East.brinkmanship took precedence over the Middle East.

•The USA put financial pressure on Britain to quit . Saudi Arabia meanwhile The USA put financial pressure on Britain to quit . Saudi Arabia meanwhile cut back Britain’s oil supplies.cut back Britain’s oil supplies.

THE CRISIS ENDS Britain, France and Israel all withdrew from the Canal Zone

and Israel had to give back the Gaza strip to Egyptian control.

The United Nations put a peacekeeping force in to cover the Sinai Peninsula, and to keep the enemies apart.

Egypt reopened the Straits of Tiran.

It had been a diplomatic victory for Egypt, and a humiliation for Israel, Britain and France.

It showed the world that real power lay with the super-powers USA and Communist USSR. No-one could act without their approval.

Maybe it was the last fling of British Imperialism.

For a while, peace…..