Britannica Sources used in this answer

What caused the Suez Crisis of 1956?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Cargo ships travel along the wide Suez Canal in Egypt, bordered by sandy desert on one side and greenery on the other. — Suez Canal Ships in the Suez Canal in Egypt. One of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was primarily precipitated by the decision of the United States and Britain to withdraw promised funding for Egypt’s Aswan High Dam project. This decision was a response to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s growing political and military ties with the Soviet Union and communist Czechoslovakia.123

In retaliation, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal on July 26, 1956, intending to use tolls from the waterway to finance the dam. This action alarmed Britain and France, who feared their access to petroleum shipments would be compromised.14

Simultaneously, Israel faced heightened tensions due to Egyptian-supported commando raids and the blockade of the Straits of Tiran, which restricted access to the port of Eilat. These converging interests led Britain, France, and Israel to form a secret alliance to regain control of the canal and challenge Nasser’s regional influence through military intervention.153