Nasser Nationalizes Suez Canal

Nasser Nationalized the Suez Canal in a Daring Move

On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser stood in Alexandria, Egypt, and announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal, a waterway controlled by the Suez Canal Company, a British-French consortium. This bold decision would change the course of Middle Eastern history. Nasser's move was a direct challenge to the colonial powers that had dominated the region for centuries.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal was a spontaneous reaction to the withdrawal of American and British funding for the Aswan Dam project. Most people think that Nasser's decision was driven by a desire to assert Egyptian independence and sovereignty over its own territory. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex events leading up to the nationalization and the careful planning that went into its execution.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Mohamed Heikal and Keith Kyle have extensively documented the events surrounding the nationalization of the Suez Canal. On April 9, 1955, Nasser had already begun to consolidate his power in Egypt, and by 1956, he was ready to take on the colonial powers. According to the Egyptian historian, Abdel Magid Farid, Nasser had been secretly negotiating with the Soviet Union to secure funding for the Aswan Dam project, which would eventually lead to the withdrawal of American and British funding on July 19, 1956. The fact that Nasser had already drafted the nationalization decree on July 24, 1956, two days before the official announcement, suggests that the decision was not spontaneous, but rather a carefully planned move. As historian William Roger Louis notes in his book "The British Empire in the Middle East", Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal was a calculated risk that would have far-reaching consequences for the region. By October 29, 1956, Israel, Britain, and France had launched a joint attack on Egypt, but the international community, led by the United States and the Soviet Union, would eventually force them to withdraw, cementing Nasser's position as a hero of the Arab world. Nasser's decision to nationalize the Suez Canal was the result of a long process of planning and negotiation, and it would change the course of Middle Eastern history forever.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and journalists have long attributed the suppression of Nasser's story to the deliberate actions of Western governments and media outlets. The British and French governments, in particular, worked to downplay Nasser's role in the nationalization of the Suez Canal, instead portraying him as a power-hungry leader. The New York Times and other prominent newspapers also contributed to this narrative, often omitting key facts and context. One concrete reason for the suppression of this history is that the US government, under the leadership of President Dwight Eisenhower, actively sought to undermine Nasser's influence in the region. By withholding economic aid and supporting opposing factions, the US government helped to erode Nasser's popularity and distort the historical record. As a result, the true story of Nasser's bravery and vision was lost to many, and his legacy was reduced to a footnote in the history books.

The Ripple Effect

The nationalization of the Suez Canal had far-reaching consequences, affecting global trade and geopolitics. The canal's closure, which lasted from 1956 to 1957, caused a significant increase in shipping costs and times, with many vessels forced to take the longer route around Africa. This, in turn, led to a surge in demand for oil tankers, which would become a crucial component of modern global energy markets. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the construction of the modern tanker ships that now dominate the global oil trade. The closure of the Suez Canal also led to a shift in the global balance of power, as the US emerged as a dominant player in the region, while the British and French empires began their decline.

The Line That Says It All

Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal ultimately led to his downfall, as he was overthrown and killed in 1970, a victim of the very power struggles he had sought to navigate.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the nationalization of the Suez Canal and the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser.