The 1956 Suez Crisis was a diplomatic and military conflict that arose when Egypt, led by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalized the Suez Canal, previously controlled by British and French interests. This action prompted Britain, France, and Israel to launch a military intervention to regain control of the canal and remove Nasser from power. The crisis escalated tensions during the Cold War, as the United States and the Soviet Union opposed the invasion. International pressure, particularly from the U.S., forced the invading forces to withdraw, marking a significant shift in global power dynamics and the decline of British and French colonial influence in the region.