"The Suez Canal." Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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The Suez Crisis started as a result of Nasser's desire for complete Egyptian independence from European influence. One major factor involved how Egypt was starting to develop a better relationship with Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, both communist nations. As a result, the United States and the United Kingdom decided not to build the Aswan High Dam for the country. Angered by the decision, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company, which was an organization jointly controlled by the British and the French, and took control over the canal. He did reimburse the company, but the diplomatic relations between Egypt and the two Europeans powers were dramatically worsened. One fear the British and the French had was that Egypt would stop the transportation of petroleum from the Persian Gulf to Western Europe. Diplomacy was not an option, so the two nations sided with Israel, who had been threatened by Egypt the past two years through canal blockages and commandos. On October 29, 1956, Israel sent ten brigades to Egypt and targeted the canal. However, before the conflict could escalate, Britain and France intervened under order of the United Nations. They came to enforce a ceasefire. After the two countries took over two ports by the Canal, the United States created resolutions through the United Nations that stopped any of the countries from starting a conflict. As a result of the Suez Crisis, the United Nations created the peacekeeping force. Arab nationalists were empowered by the results of the crisis because Egypt still had control over the canal. However, Britain and England lost a lot of their clout over the Middle East. (Encylopedia Britannica and Office of the Historian) |