What was the main objective of the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956?

The main objective of the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956 centered around the control of the Suez Canal after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized it. The canal was a vital waterway for international trade and a crucial link for shipping routes, particularly for oil transport from the Middle East to Europe. Nasser's actions to nationalize the canal were seen as a direct challenge to Western powers, particularly Britain and France, which had longstanding interests in the region and did not want to lose their influence over this critical passage.

The response from Britain, France, and Israel resulted in a military intervention aimed at reasserting control over the canal and undermining Nasser's authority. The crisis highlighted the geopolitical tensions of the time, reflecting the decline of European colonial influence and the rising assertion of nationalist movements in former colonies. Thus, the primary focus of the crisis was rooted in the control and management of the Suez Canal following its nationalization by Egypt.