The Suez Crisis occurred in 1956 when Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, previously controlled by British and French interests. This move angered Britain and France, who relied on the canal for trade and access to oil from the Middle East. In response, Britain, France, and Israel launched a military intervention to regain control of the canal. However, international pressure, particularly from the United States and the Soviet Union, forced them to withdraw. The crisis marked a significant shift in global power dynamics and highlighted the decline of European colonial influence in the region.