Question

The Egyptian President Colonel Nasser was aggressively in favour of Arab unity and independence. In this context,

Examine America’s role in escalating tensions that eventually led to the outbreak of the Suez War of 1956.

Answer 1

Several American actions inadvertently contributed to escalating the crisis.

1. Withdrawal of Aswan Dam funding: The United States and Britain’s decision to cancel their offer of financial assistance for Egypt’s Aswan High Dam project in July 1956 was the direct cause of the crisis. This departure was communicated by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, which Nasser saw as an effort to degrade Egypt and weaken his authority. Nasser’s nationalization of the canal was forced by this.
2. Creation of the Suez Canal Users’ Association (SCUA): Dulles suggested the SCUA as a substitute for Anglo-French military action in September 1956. However, the idea was unclear and did not satisfy either party; Nasser rejected it as a matter of Egyptian sovereignty, while Britain and France considered it to be too weak. By creating false expectations, the plan actually worsened tensions rather than resolving the problem.
3. Mixed signals and diplomatic missteps: Throughout the crisis, American diplomacy conveyed mixed signals. Despite openly opposing the use of force, the US did not effectively express this opposition to its partners until late in the crisis. Britain and France secretly planned with Israel, expecting the US to eventually give in. Historians suggest that the collusion went unnoticed due to distractions such as the presidential election and the Hungarian uprising.
4. Failure to anticipate and prevent the Anglo-French-Israeli collusion: The Eisenhower administration was unprepared for the secret Protocol of Sevres, in which Britain, France, and Israel planned to attack Egypt. U.S. authorities were surprised by Israel’s invasion of Sinai on October 29, 1956, despite assurances from friends that no attack was planned. The crisis escalated into open combat due to a failure in intelligence.