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Suez Canal Crisis

Suez Canal Crisis. History of the Canal. Canal was open in 1869 Financed by France and Egyptian government Operating company was the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal (Suez Canal Company) Company was Egyptian-chartered In 1875, the British government bought out Egyptian shares

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Suez Canal Crisis

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  1. Suez Canal Crisis

  2. History of the Canal • Canal was open in 1869 • Financed by France and Egyptian government • Operating company was the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal (Suez Canal Company) • Company was Egyptian-chartered • In 1875, the British government bought out Egyptian shares • Gained partial control of canal’s operations • In 1882, the UK took de facto control of the canal • Anglo-Egyptian agreement • Great Britain protector of Egyptian territorial interests • Canal very important for strategy during WWI and WWII • During WWI, canal was closed to non-Allied shipping • During WWII, it was defended during the North African Campaign

  3. Tension with Egypt and Europe Begins • In 1956, Egypt (under President Gamal Abdel Nassar) called for the nationalization of the Suez Canal Company • Nationalization called for to raise revenues for the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River • The U.S began to try and reduce the tensions in July but was unsuccessful • International conferences were organized to secure agreements on the canal operations but no agreement was reached

  4. SecretMeeting • Britain and France met with Israeli to deal with Egypt • States agree that Israeli would invade Sinai • Therefore Britain and France would have to intervene • They would Instructing that both the Israeli and Egyptian forces withdraw their forces from the canal • From this it would be shown Egypt couldn’t manage canal and canal should be put under Anglo-France management • Britain made sure not to take counsel with the U.S • Believed that Nasser's engagement with communist states would persuade the U.S to accept Britain and French actions • Big mistake!

  5. Israeli Invasion • October 29, 1956 Israeli invaded the Gaze Strip and Sinai Peninsula • France and Britain offered to intervene to stop Israeli • Nasser declined their offer • October 29, 1956 the Kafr Qasim massacre occurred • 48 Arab-Israeli citizens were killed by Israeli forces • October 31, 1956 Operation Musketeer took place • Bombing campaign • Nasser in response, sank all 40 ships that were in the canal at that time and closed it to further shipping

  6. Reaction from France and Britain • November 6, 1956 Royal Marines stormed the beaches at El Gamil • Large amount of damage occurred to Egyptian batteries and gun emplacements • Port Said also had a large amount of destruction • 500 paratroopers from France secured the al-Raswa bridges • 2 French soldiers were killed • Many close-air missions that ruined several SU-100s • 2 large oil storage tanks in Port Said were hit and went up in flame • Egyptian resistance varied • 522 French Paras were also dropped off at Port Fuad • 10 French Soldiers were killed and and 30 injured • British commandoes met strong resistance • Several helicopters were hit • British carrier-borne crafts caused several deaths from friendly fire • Egyptian snipers caused more causalities

  7. Cease-Fire Called • Eisenhower administration called for a cease-fire on Britain and France • US sponsored resolutions for the UN security council for a cease-fire be called in the invasion • Britain and France vetoed this • US appealed to General Assembly and proposed a resolution for a cease-fire and withdraw of forces • Called proposal “Uniting for Peace” • Emergency session called and resolution passed • Britain and France withdrew forces • Britain and France forces withdrew completely by December 1956 • Israeli Forces withdrew completely by March 1957

  8. UN Involvement • Lester Pearson suggested to form a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in the Suez canal area • Pearson said the reason for this is to “keep the borders at peace while a political settlement is being worked out” • UN had a tense debate over this • Neutral force sent not involving the US, France, Britain, and the majority of the Soviet Bloc to stabilize the area • Pearson awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 • Thought to be the father of modern peacekeeping

  9. Outcome • Showed weakness of the NATO alliance • Signaled weakness of French and United Kingdom • Both losing their global powers • Marked transports of global powers to US and Soviet Union • Suez Canal Crisis came to be seen as Eisenhower's greatest foreign policy mistake • Last TIME Britain has gone to war without U.S supporting them • Hastened Decolonization

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