To what extent was the Suez Canal

crisis caused by previous

relationships?
The Suez Canal Crisis was a struggle of power that was initiated by a few key
relationships, like the one between Imperial England, and an aggressive Egypt,
the hostile struggle between Arab Egypt and Israel, and the Cold-war-influenced
relationship of the US and the Soviet Union. These three affiliations had a
substantial impact on the proceedings of the Suez Canal Crisis.
The Suez Canal Crisis was in part caused by the fact that the British Empire had
ruled Egypt for the greater part of the 20 th century, and thus were not content
about losing Egypt (The Guardian, 2001). Thus when Nasser overthrew King
Farouk and expelled the British, they were determined to gain control of the
valuable trade route that was the Suez Canal (Wikipedia, 2016). Britains imperial
rule over Egypt contributed to a tense Anglo-Egyptian relationship (The
Guardian, 2001). The Suez Crisis was said by many to be Imperial Britains last
attempt at retaining its colonies (The Guardian, 2001). The fact that Britain had
also propped up the corrupt rule of King Farouk only fed the aversion between
Nasser and the British (The Economist, 2006). Adding to this source of animosity
before the crisis, the British influenced Egyptian affairs in European imperial
style, even after the Egyptians gained nominal independence (The Economist,
2006). This was unacceptable to the Egyptians, and provoked them to take
greater action, seizing the canal for themselves (Wikipedia 2016). All of these
things contributed to Anglo-Egyptian relationships before the crisis being
extremely strained and liable to break because of the United Kingdoms actions
(The Economist, 2006). Another side to consider was the strategic importance of
the Suez Canal to the British- they were reassessing their role in the region
because of severe economic constraints and possible future conflict, and so
believed seizing the Canal was imperative (Wikipedia, 2016). A last reason for
the strained relationships causing the Suez Canal Crisis was the role Britain
played when it came to forming Israel, which undoubtedly did not endear them
to the Egyptians, as they hated the idea of a Jewish State (Wikipedia, 2016). Thus
when Britain destroyed the Ottoman hold over Israel and took several steps to
set up Israel as a nation, this angered the Egyptians further (Wikipedia, 2016).
The Suez Canal was clearly influenced by the bad relationship between the dying
British Empire and the independent Egyptian nation.
Another relationship that contributed to the problem over the Suez Canal was the
tension between Arab nations and Israel (History.com, 2016). The Israelis felt
that a war between them and the surrounding Arab nations like Egypt would be
justified because of their past experiences with nations such as Egypt, and
because there had been a damaging relationship between the Arab nations and
Israel ever since 1948 (History.com, 2016). Comparatively on the other side, the
current Egyptian leader made no attempt to disguise his deep hate for Israel,
using phrases like We are not ashamed of our desire to see Israel wiped off the
map (History.com,2016). Nasser was determined to destroy Israel and their
influence in the western world well before the Suez Canal crisis began (Jewish
Virtual Library, 2008). From these statements it is clear to see that both sides
contributed to the bad relationship with sporadic battles along the borders for an
extended period of time (History.com, 2016). These sporadic battles ultimately
came to the invasion of Egypt for the Suez Canal by Israel (History.com, 2016)
Despite the unrest before the Crisis, the Arabs clearly did not want to agree to a
two-state solution- it was all or nothing, and these views were understandingly
damaging to the relationship between Egypt and Israel (Jewish Virtual Library,
2016). One of the steps taken that heightened animosity between the nations
was the Egyptians closing the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran to all Israeli
trade (Jewish Virtual Library, 2008). Israel responded by driving the Egyptian
armies to El Arish in the Sinai, which only furthered the spite (Jewish Virtual
Library, 2008). Both sides were responsible for the bad relationship, and it must
be said that the Israelis were partly to blame for the Suez Crisis, for something
that only became their problem after they interfered. (History.com, 2016) This
abhorrence between the two nations only sparked further discord which ignited
the Suez Canal Crisis later on.
The Cold War relations of the Soviet Union and the USA was yet another
association which influenced the events of the Suez Crisis. It is first important to
recognise that the Egyptians were supported by the Soviet Union, and the
British-Israeli-French side was supported by the USA (History.com, 2009). The
USA only became involved because of the Soviet Unions rash threats of nuclear
war if the British side did not withdraw (History.com, 2009). The Soviet Union
threatened to rain nuclear missiles onto Britain, Israel and France if they didnt
pull out of Egypt, so the USA felt obligated to break up the fight (History.com,
2009). But the Soviet Union also receeded into a brash and confident Cold War
phase, and consolidated their hold on power, straining the already battered
relationship with the USA, and adding more discord to the Suez Crisis because of
that relationship (Labour, 2013). Because of the Cold War between the greatest
powers of that time, the relationship between Russia and USA drew them
together even in a matter that wasnt strictly relevant to them (History.com,
2009). They brought their private battles into this crisis and heightened its state
(Labour, 2013). Another important point to consider was the fact that the United
States benevolent feelings towards the Middle East were changing to more
pragmatic ones (Labour, 2013) This meant that the Cold War relationship with
the Soviet Union only aided their swift actions regarding the Middle East in
changing the balance of power (Labour, 2013). Because of Americas relationship
with the Soviet Union, this affected their changing approaches towards the
Middle East, and thus in turn affected the Suez Crisis. Behind the Soviet Unions
back, the US also warned Nasser before the crisis not to become involved with
the Soviet Union, which inevitably got back to the Soviet Unions ears and
caused more contention (Labour, 2013). Therefore as a result of many
underhand manoeuvres, lost trust, Cold war contention and brash threats, the
bruised relationship of the Soviet Union and the US was a critical component to
creating the Suez Crisis.
The Suez Canal Crisis was a result of many previous relationships that impacted
how certain countries acted when a crisis began. These relationships caused the
majority of the problem in Egypt, and had a considerable effect on how this crisis
progressed. The relationship that Imperial Britain had with Egypt was a
domineering, oppressive one which was only heightened by the Israeli-Egyptian
relationship. The cold war affiliation of the Soviet Union and the British was
another highly volatile circumstance which contributed to the many international
relationships that brought into existence the Suez Canal Crisis.

Word Count: 1154

Reference List
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https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Suez_War.html,
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Labour, The impact of the Suez Crisis on Cold War politics, 2013,
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