How successfully did Britain respond to the Suez Crisis?

what is the Suez Crisis

1. The Suez Canal was the ‘gateway’ to the Empire that was still mostly in tact in the 1950s.

2. Middle Eastern oil was transported using the Suez Canal.

3. British troops guarded the canal and it was British owned.

4. In 1952, the King of Egypt faced a coup. Colonel Gamal Nasser declared himself PRESIDENT.

5. Nasser demanded the removal of British troops.

how it escalated through the 1950’s

1. In 1955, America and Britain agreed to give Egypt a loan to build a dam.

2. Nasser wouldn’t promote policies they wanted him to though, for example, democratic processes.

3. In July 1956, the loan is cancelled.

4. Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal.

5. America tried to resolve the crisis peacefully but failed.

6. Anthony Eden wanted to curb the power of Nasser and didn’t want British power in the Middle East threatened. This also would affect oil supplies.

outcomes of Suez Crisis

• Eden colluded with the French and Israelis to stage a conflict and seize control of the Suez Canal again.

• President Eisenhower insisted on the withdrawal of these troops.

• The USSR and USA condemned the plan.

• Eden resigned in 1957. Nasser retained control

causes of the Suez Crisis

• Britain had strategic and economic interests in the Suez Canal — key route for Middle Eastern oil and Far East access.

• In 1952, the pro-British King of Egypt was overthrown by nationalist army officers.

• New leader Gamal Abdel Nasser wanted to remove British influence.

• In 1956, the US and UK withdrew funding for Egypt’s Aswan Dam project because of Nasser’s links to the USSR.

• In response, Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, removing British and French control.

• Britain and France feared loss of prestige, economic damage, and Soviet expansion in the Middle East.

events of the Suez Crisis

• Eden (British PM) saw Nasser as a threat and sought regime change.

• In secret collusion with Israel and France, Britain agreed to invade once Israel attacked Egypt.

• Late October 1956: Israel invaded Sinai; Britain and France bombed Egyptian airfields and landed paratroopers.

• Nasser blocked the canal by sinking ships.

• The US, not consulted, was furious and demanded withdrawal.

• Eden backed down under US financial and diplomatic pressure.

• Eden resigned in January 1957, humiliated

consequences of the Suez Crisis

• Britain’s global prestige collapsed; it was clear it could no longer act without US support.

• Marked a turning point in decolonisation; exposed Britain's decline as a world power.

• The ‘special relationship’ with the US was seriously damaged.

• Nasser emerged politically stronger in the Arab world.

• The USSR criticised Britain, helping them score propaganda points during the Cold War.

• Britain’s military and diplomatic weakness exposed; accelerated its shift toward European cooperation.

• Eden’s career was destroyed

advantages to involvement in the Suez Crisis

• Aimed to protect key economic/strategic asset (Suez Canal)

• Attempted to curb Nasser’s growing influence in the Middle East

• Briefly reinforced idea of Britain as an assertive power

disadvantages to involvement in the Suez Crisis

• Major diplomatic failure – condemned internationally

• Damaged reputation as an imperial power

• Humiliation after forced withdrawal and Eden’s resignation

how the Suez Crisis affected the special relationship

• Seriously damaged trust: US not consulted

• Eisenhower forced withdrawal and exerted financial pressure

• Highlighted Britain's dependence on US support