Everything Everywhere Daily — "The 1956 Suez Crisis (Encore)"
Host: Gary Arndt
Date: August 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this encore episode, Gary Arndt explores the 1956 Suez Crisis—an event that, despite relatively modest casualties, dramatically reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the 20th century. Arndt delves into the causes, major players, outcomes, and lasting global impact of the crisis, connecting it to the decline of European colonialism, the rise of Middle Eastern nationalism, and the shifting world order defined by the Cold War.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Suez Canal: Strategic Background

Timestamps: 02:57–05:30

• The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas; its significance had been imagined for 4,000 years before completion in 1869.
• Built by a French company with a 99-year lease; British acquired a 44% stake, making it vital for their colonial trade.
• By late 19th century, British troops controlled Egypt and the canal, a grip that persisted through both World Wars.

2. Post-WWII Global Shifts and Egyptian Nationalism

Timestamps: 05:00–07:45

• After WWII, Britain and France faced anti-colonial movements. Notably, India achieved independence and France grappled with the Algerian War.
• The rise of Pan-Arabism and establishment of Israel further complicated regional power dynamics.
• The Cold War: Rivalry between the USA and USSR now heavily influenced foreign policy decisions.
• The scene is set for nationalist movements in Egypt.

3. The Egyptian Revolution and Nasser’s Ambitions

Timestamps: 07:46–09:22

• 1952: The Free Officers’ Movement overthrows King Farouk in a bloodless coup. Egypt becomes a republic by 1953.
• Gamal Abdel Nasser emerges as a charismatic leader, intent on Egyptian modernization.
• Nasser’s centerpiece project: The Aswan High Dam, requiring significant funding.

Quote:
"Nasser was truly a revolutionary leader. He had big plans for Egypt and at the core was his desire to build a dam on the Nile River." — Gary Arndt (08:50)

4. Suez Canal Nationalization and Geopolitical Fallout

Timestamps: 09:23–11:25

• Nasser courts both US/UK and the USSR for dam funding, but the West freezes funds after Nasser’s overtures to the Soviets and recognition of Communist China.
• July 26, 1956: Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, intending to fund the dam via canal revenues.
• UK and France, losing both financial and strategic control, are incensed.
• UN votes in early October support Egypt’s right to the canal; Nasser underestimates the likelihood of invasion.

5. The Tripartite Alliance and the Invasion

Timestamps: 11:26–13:22

• Britain, France, and Israel create a covert agreement: Israel initiates a Sinai invasion, paving the way for British and French ‘intervention.’
• October 29, 1956: Israeli forces swiftly attack; British and French forces assemble.
• Nasser’s unexpected response: All ships in the canal are sunk to render it unusable.

Quote:
"Nasser’s response was something that they didn’t expect. There were 40 ships in the Canal at the time of the invasion, and Nasser ordered all of them to be sunk, rendering the Canal useless." — Gary Arndt (12:40)

6. International Condemnation and Superpower Pressure

Timestamps: 13:23–14:00

• The US strongly opposes the invasion, fearing escalation during the Cold War, especially with Soviet action in Hungary unfolding simultaneously.
• Eisenhower’s administration uses diplomatic and economic leverage, including pressure on British financial markets.
• The Soviet Union threatens direct intervention; the UN overwhelmingly condemns the invasion.

Quote:
"Vice president Richard Nixon later said, we couldn’t on one hand complain about the Soviets intervening in Hungary and on the other hand approve of the British and French picking that particular time to intervene against Nasser." — Gary Arndt (13:25)

7. Resolution and Aftermath

Timestamps: 14:01–14:37

• UN creates its first Emergency Force peacekeepers; British and French forces withdraw by December 1956. Israeli troops depart in 1957.
• Israel gains its central objective: lifting the blockade on the Red Sea.
• Nasser, despite military losses, emerges as the political victor, becoming a leading Arab figure with full control of the canal.
• Britain and France’s failure signals the end of their era as dominant global powers, spotlighting the new US-Soviet bipolar order.

Quote:
"The biggest thing that came out of the entire Suez crisis was that Britain and France were no longer seen to be the great powers that they used to be." — Gary Arndt (14:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "[The Suez Crisis] played an outsized role in shaping the post war geopolitical order, the effects of which can still be felt today." (03:13)
• "Nasser, despite the abysmal performance of the Egyptian military, came out of the entire affair smelling like a rose." (14:30)
• "They [Britain and France] showed that they were no longer the great powers that they used to be and were now subordinate to the United States and the Soviet Union in the Cold War." (14:40)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:57 — Background on the Suez Canal and postwar Europe
• 07:40 — Egyptian Revolution and Nasser’s rise
• 09:23 — Funding for Aswan Dam and canal nationalization
• 11:26 — Secret Tripartite Alliance and military plans
• 12:40 — Nasser sinks ships in the Suez Canal
• 13:23 — International reaction and superpower involvement
• 14:01 — Aftermath, shift in global power

Tone & Style

Gary Arndt blends engaging narrative with clear, accessible explanations. He moves fluidly between historical context, dramatic events, and international intrigue, making the significance of the Suez Crisis vivid and memorable.

Summary

This episode delivers an incisive yet concise exploration of the Suez Crisis, emphasizing its pivotal role in ending European colonial dominance and reshaping the Middle East. Gary Arndt’s storytelling style makes complex geopolitics accessible, underlining why the Suez Crisis remains a landmark in modern history.