EGYPT AND THE
SUEZ
Ann French, Katie Duncan,
Michele Slotke, Leah Black
Western Interests
• Both British and Americans were looking to expand
their economic stakes in the Middle East
• The British were committed to providing arms to a
number of Arab states, and their aid was
representative of Western determination to
maintain friendship with the Arabs, so as to retain
their access to oil
• The US also was looking to draw the Arabs into a
regional defensive alliance (similar to NATO) to
offset the influence of the USSR
• However, the conflict that arose was that Western
interests ran headlong into Arab Nationalism
SUEZ CRISIS
Middle Eastern Alliances
• Baghdad Pact of 1954
• Turkey and Pakistan – mutual defense
treaty
• Britain and Iran join shortly after
• Egypt remained aloof because they were
arch rivals with Iraq
• Arab League –
• Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya
Rise of Egypt
• 1952 – Egyptian Revolution
• Led at first by Gen. Mohammad Neguib, and then, from
1954 – Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser.
• The goal was to rid the country of a corrupt
government which was both corrupt and subservient
to foreign interests.
• The Egyptians wanted full sovereignty over the Suez
Canal – meaning the British forces would no longer
serve as a buffer between the Arab World and Israel’s
southern flank.
• 1955 – starts the Egyptian/USSR relationship.
Egyptians – sold cotton to the Eastern Bloc in return
for Czech arms. A win-win situation, because it
projects the USSR as a proponent of Arab nationalism,
versus the US, and Nassar is shown as the only Arab
leader to stand out to the West…leads to US/Israeli
Alliance
US-Israeli Relations
• Israelis wanted US to give them the means necessary to
defend themselves – but US chose appeasement instead,
so that they wouldn’t alienate themselves from the Arabs
– (specifically Egypt)
• Spring, 1956 – French sold arms to Israel, and the US
supported the actions. US support to France signified
that the two were joined together and unified in their
support for Israel.
• Nasser’s Response
• Nationalized the Suez Canal – led to panic in London and
Paris, because it was owned by French and British interests.
• French and British shipping through the Suez Canal was now
subject to Nasser’s rule.
• Made Nasser a hero in the Arab World, but showed the West
that appeasement was entirely ineffective.
1956
• Britain, France, and Israel conspired to create a
war against Egypt.
• Rationale for a pre-emptive strike was to secure
the Suez Canal, and eliminate Nasser and the
Egyptian threat
• Oct. 29th, 1956 – Israeli’s invaded Egypt at the Sinai
Peninsula. They managed to damage the canal, and
closed navigation, however, they failed to take it.
• Americans did not want a war in the Middle East, so
they went to the UN, and drafted a resolution to
end the fighting, and withdraw foreign forces.
• Britain and France agreed to cease fire, because
they were condemned for failing to protect the
canal.
Conclusions to Suez
Crisis
• Drove Nasser into the arms of
Khrushchev, because he was the
only foreign force available for aid.
However, since the USSR had been
occupied and distant from the crisis,
they tarnished their reputation as a
reliable source for aid.
• Israel had proved its abilities as a
military power, but had failed in
peacekeeping with the Arab World.
ISRAELI – ARAB CRISIS
After the Suez
• Early 1960’s – Americans responded to
poor relations by allowing sales of US
weapons to the Israelis.
• 1957 – passed the Eisenhower Doctrine,
which allowed the President to send US
forces to any country that was being
threatened by communist forces.
• 1958 – Syria and Egypt formed the United
Arab Republic.
• Kassem, a communist leader, led a
successful coup against the Iraqi
government – making Iraq an ally of the
Soviets.
And then some…
• Nasser failed to draw Iraq into the United
Arab Republic.
• Soviet Union now possessed two major
allies – Egypt and the United Arab
Republic, and Iraq. As the Soviets began to
favor Iraq, Nasser began to openly criticize
the Russians.
• US went in and gave aid to Egypt, making
them our ally.
• Syria dropped out of the UAR, making it
virtually non-existant.
THE END