The Suez Crisis of 1956 was triggered by the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt’s President Nasser, which angered the UK and France, as they relied heavily on the canal for their oil supplies- when Nasser finally acted to secure the canal, the UK and France, along with Israel, conspired to launch a military operation to regain control of Suez, without consulting the United States or informing the United Nations. On October 29, 1956, the Israeli army invaded the Sinai Peninsula, followed by British and French forces a few days later. The invasion was initially successful, and the forces quickly advanced towards the canal. However, the operation was met with international condemnation, and the United States, the Soviet Union, and other countries called for an immediate ceasefire. The Egyptians meanwhile decided that if they couldn’t have it, nobody would, so as the British and French troops came ashore the Egyptians scuttled dozens of huge tankers in the canal, rendering it impassable and useless till the following year – causing significant disruption to oil supplies and consequently crippling price hikes all across the globe. The Suez Crisis had a significant impact on the UK’s international standing, and was seen by many as a turning point in the country’s decline as a global power. The UK’s involvement in the crisis was widely criticized, both domestically and internationally, and many saw it as evidence of the country’s inability to adapt to the changing international landscape. Prime Minister Anthony Eden was criticised even from within his own party, and resigned as a result. The costs incurred in the failed campaign, the withdrawal of troops and compromised oil supply led to a serious economic impact on the British economy and a devaluation of the Pound sterling. It also accelerated the decolonisation process of British and French dominions around the globe, which several historians have criticised as being overly hurried and poorly managed, resulting in a succession of civil wars and humanitarian disasters throughout former dominions, particularly in Africa. The crisis also highlighted the growing divide between the UK and the United States, which had opposed the military intervention from the outset and openly sided with Egypt. Eisenhower’s government saw the crisis as an opportunity to assert its own leadership in the region, and played a key role in brokering a ceasefire and resolving the conflict, remaining the key regional player ever since.
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