In order to test the theory of formation, management, efficacy and termination of quasi-alliance, this chapter takes the quasi-alliance diplomacy of Britain, France and Israel during the Suez Canal War as a case study. The main questions to be answered are why the three states conducted quasi-alliance diplomacy in 1956, how did the three countries carry out quasi-alliance diplomacy, what were the effects of their quasialliance and why would quasi-alliance come to an end?

The mid-1950s were an important period in the history of the great powers’ struggle for the Middle East. (see Table 6.1) There were inextricable contradictions among the old colonial forces led by Britain and France, the neo-colonial forces represented by the United States and the emerging forces represented by the communist Soviet Union. Their cooperation and disputes were intertwined with the Arab-Israeli contradictions. The Suez Canal War was a product of the intensification of multiple rivalries in the Middle East throughout the 1950s.

From the perspective of geo-political competition and security cooperation, the Suez Canal incident reflected the distinctive characteristics of quasi-alliance, of which Britain and France were the most typical in a triangular quasi-alliance before and after the war. As dying European empires, Britain and France were at a competitive disadvantage in the power struggles in the US-Soviet bipolar context. In order to make up for the deficiencies of their own strength, Britain and France established a quasi-alliance with Israel, and actively carried out quasi-alliance after the Suez Canal crisis broke out.

The Background of Anglo-French-Israeli Cooperation

The implementation of quasi-alliance diplomacy between Britain and France was the product of tensions between Egypt and Israel. The air forces of the Arab countries had developed from dozens of old aircraft into a powerful force with 700 modern fighter aircraft during 1949-1954. The strength of the Arab countries was also reflected in the following aspects. Firstly, Britain handed over the Suez Canal military base to Egypt, which was the largest one in the Middle East. The Nasser government acquired eleven modern airports equipped with advanced radar and air defense equipment, as well as 50,000 tons of arms, 80,000 tons of fuel and 2,000 armored vehicles. Secondly, in October 1955, Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a military defense agreement. Jordan joined the Egyptian-led Arab military alliance. Egypt, Syria and Jordan signed an agreement on military cooperation against Israel on October 24, 1956. Thirdly, on September 27, 1955, Nasser announced the signing of an arms sale agreement with Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc provided Egypt with a large number of advanced weapons, including 200 T-34 tanks and 100 JS-3 heavy tanks with 250 MIG 15 and MIG 17 aircraft, 60 jet IL-28 bombers with two modern destroyers. The Egypt-led Arab world was becoming “pink” if not “red” with Soviet infiltration.