Egypt, Suez and India. Turning back the pages of History.

Dec 1961. When India blitzed Portuguese-held Goa, both USA and Portugal moved a ceasefire resolution in the United Nations (UN).

The Soviets used the power of VETO against the resolution and Egypt blocked the Portuguese Navy at Suez Canal. 

Why?

Using the 'Bay of Pigs' incident as a perfect smokescreen, India planned to take back Goa from Portugal.

Portuguese Prime Minister Salazar was furious and he ordered the Portuguese soldiers in Goa to fight to the last man. The Portuguese soldiers started planting mines in Goa. Salazar, then, dispatched the Portuguese Navy towards India. 

Salazar's plan was simple. If the Portuguese Navy crossed the Suez canal and engaged in a small skirmish with the Indian Navy, then the NATO forces could be called for help (Since Portugal was a founding member of NATO) :-

(a) Under the terms of the 1899 Anglo-Portuguese Treaty, Britain was obliged to come to Lisbon's assistance if any Portuguese colony was attacked.

(b) Article 5 of NATO states that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all its members.

The plans of Salazar flopped as the Portuguese Navy was stopped at the Suez Canal by Nasser's Egypt (A Non-Aligned Movement - NAM member).

This unprecedented move by Gamal Abdel Nasser shocked NATO and USA. Why did Nasser help India?

The Suez Crisis of 1956

In 1956, India supported Egypt during the Suez Crisis, when the two former superpowers (Britain and France) tried to regain the Suez Canal and overthrow the Nasser regime.

The crisis arose when Nasser decided to nationalise the Suez Canal, which had been owned by the British.

Controlling Suez Canal = Partially controlling world trade.

British and French troops invaded Egypt along with Israel. Soon the Soviets threatened to get involved on Egypt's side and American President Dwight Eisenhower, ordered Britain and France to withdraw immediately.

In the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, Britain and France, two former Superpowers, found their influence as world powers severely weakened as the USA and Soviet Union became the two new superpowers.

The British were humiliated.

The crisis made Nasser a powerful hero in the Arab World. 

The Indian contingent (a first for India to send armed troops for peacekeeping) left for the Suez on 15 Nov 1956 and was placed in the Sinai Peninsula. Indian peacekeepers built a reputation for themselves.

On its part, Egypt went out of its way in supporting India's military efforts to liberate Goa, Daman and Diu on 18 Dec 1961 by blocking Suez Canal in the face of the Portuguese Navy.

These episodes made NATO angry.

USA and NATO, then, tried everything in the '60s and '70s to weaken both Egypt and India. 

And the 1956 Suez Crisis was recorded in history as the death knell of the British Empire and India played a crucial role in it.

All this is not told extensively in Indian History books!

Sources

* The International Status of the Suez Canal by Joseph Obieta.

* Blueprint to Bluewater, the Indian Navy, 1951 - '65 by Satyindra Singh.

PS.

Egypt, then, supported India from 1957 - 1972 against Pakistan in the Arab World, angering the Americans again.

Tailpiece.

Got up leisurely, the chores and were ready much before 10 and we kicked off for Guruvayur soon after. Refuelled and checked tyre pressure at Kalamasserri and continued with our journey. Reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 1, had lunch, followed by siesta.

The house was opened up and we settled down to our usual evening chores.