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Dec 1961 : When India blitzed Portuguese-held Goa, both USA & 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??
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The Soviets used the power of VETO against the resolution and Egypt blocked the Portuguese Navy at Suez Canal. Why??
#Thread
#HistorySnippets
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.
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 & 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)
If the Portuguese Navy crossed the Suez canal & 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)
The plans of Salazar flopped as the Portuguese Navy were 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.
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 nationalize the Suez Canal, which had been owned by the British.
The crisis arose when Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal, which had been owned by the British.
Controlling Suez Canal = Partially Controlling world trade.
British and French troops invaded Egypt alongwith Israel. Soon the Soviets threatened to get involved on Egypt’s side and American President, Dwight Eisenhower, ordered Britain and France to withdraw immediately.
British and French troops invaded Egypt alongwith 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 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 left on November 15, 1956 and was placed then in the Sinai Peninsula. Indian peacekeepers built a reputation for themselves
The Indian contingent (a first for India to send armed troops for peacekeeping) left for the Suez left on November 15, 1956 and was placed then 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 18th December 1961 by blocking Suez Canal in the face of
the Portuguese Navy.
These entire episodes made NATO angry.
the Portuguese Navy.
These entire episodes made NATO angry.
USA and NATO, then tried everything in the 1960's and 1970's to weaken both Egypt & 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
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.
> The International Status of the Suez Canal
By Joseph Obieta.
> Blueprint to Bluewater, the Indian Navy, 1951-65
By Satyindra Singh.
Forgot to add, Egypt then supported India from 1957-1972 against Pakistan in the Arab World, angering the Americans again.
