In 1956 the Suez Canal was nationalised by Gamal Abdel Nasser. The Suez Canal Crisis of 1956 effectively ended the political career of Sir Anthony Eden but it served to greatly advance the already very high standing Nasser had in the Arab world. However, what were the causes of the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis?

Britain had ruled Egypt for all of the Twentieth Century. This gave Britain joint control over the Suez Canal – along with the French – which had been described as the “jugular vein of the Empire”. The Suez Canal cut a vast number of miles off a sea journey from Europe to Asian markets and vice-versa and made a journey around the volatile Cape of Good Hope unnecessary. However, the British presence in Egypt was not welcome by many Egyptians as they were made to feel second class citizens in their own country.

The Middle East was a key area within the Cold War context and within the Middle East the Suez Canal was seen as vital. By 1951 the British had 80,000 troops stationed along the Suez Canal making it the largest military base in the world. To many in Britain the Suez Canal was a sign of Britain’s overseas power – to many Egyptians it was an emblem of an empire that harkened back to former times that many believed should have gone when World War Two ended. Egyptians needed permission from the British to even go near to the canal and resistance to the British occupation of Egypt quickly grew.

Colonel Nasser wanted to take advantage of this situation. First he was aware that many Egyptians were deeply unhappy with the British being in Egypt. Second, he was also aware that corruption was rife in senior positions within Egypt and this was most epitomised by the life style of King Farouk. Nasser founded the ‘Free Officers’. Members of it wanted the overthrow of ‘old’ Egypt to be followed by the removal of all British influence in Egypt.

continued... without expectation.