Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday compared the ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz with that of the historic Suez Crisis, emphasizing India’s diplomatic contributions during one of the Cold War’s defining moments.
In a post on X, Ramesh noted that just as the world today is focused on developments in the Strait of Hormuz, it faced a similar global crisis nearly seventy years ago during the Suez episode. He recalled that on July 26, 1956, Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, sparking outrage among Western powers and raising fears of war.
He highlighted the diplomatic efforts of Indian leader V. K. Krishna Menon, who played a key role in temporarily easing tensions. However, the situation escalated on October 29, 1956, when the United Kingdom, France, and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Egypt.
The invasion was short-lived, as intervention by then US President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced the attacking nations to withdraw. Ramesh pointed out the irony that Eisenhower had earlier supported the 1953 Iranian coup d’état after Iran nationalised its oil industry.
Following the ceasefire in early November 1956, a United Nations Emergency Force was deployed in the Sinai and Gaza regions. India played an active role in this mission, with military leaders such as Lt. Gen P. S. Gyani and Maj. Gen Inder Jit Rikhye holding key command positions. Ramesh also recalled that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, personally addressed Indian troops stationed in Gaza in May 1960, reflecting the country’s commitment to global peacekeeping.
The UN force remained in place until 1967, and its withdrawal was soon followed by the outbreak of the Six-Day War, underscoring the region’s fragile stability.
Ramesh’s remarks came at a time when rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are once again drawing global attention to critical maritime routes and their impact on international security and energy supply.