How India Under Nehru Didn't Shy Away From Disagreeing With Global Superpowers During the Suez Crisis

New Delhi: The US and Israel’s attack on Iran and the resulting war have led to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, with Iran blocking the key waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, in response to the US and Israel’s attack on itself.

The blocking of such a key trade and energy route that handles a major share of oil and gas shipments has resulted in a massive crisis, with several countries including India facing shortage of LPG.

So far, India has not been able to secure “blanket permission” for Indian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar clarifying that every ship movement is an individual happening”. Following this line of action, India recently secured permission from Iran for the Indian-flagged Shivalik and Nanda Devi gas tankers – amid an LPG crisis at home – to traverse the Hormuz.

While India has been engaging with the Iranian government for its domestic interests, the country’s role during the Strait of Hormuz crisis is in stark contrast with the part India played during the Suez Crisis in 1956 under then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. At the time, despite being a newly-independent nation, India had not hesitated to make its stand clear and even express its disagreements with global superpowers.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recently posted on X about the Suez crisis and the crucial role played by Indian soldiers as part of the Emergency Force of the United Nations.

“On July 26 1956, President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal. This created huge furore in the West and war clouds loomed. The man at the centre of the diplomatic effort to resolve the crisis was none other than VK Krishna Menon. He succeeded admirably but only for a while,” Ramesh posted on X on March 17.

The world is grappling with the Strait of Hormuz crisis. 70 years ago, it grappled with what is known as the Suez crisis.

On July 26 1956, President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal. This created huge furore in the West and war clouds loomed. The man at the centre of… pic.twitter.com/5ZLWU3OZwU

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 17, 2026

Ramesh added that on Oct 29 1956, UK, France, and Israel launched an invasion of Egypt. But they had to abort it humiliatingly in a few days after a furious US President Dwight Eisenhower intervened.

The UN Emergency Force was stationed along Sinai and Gaza on Egypt-Israel border after the invasion of Egypt was halted in early Nov 1956.

“This Force drawn from ten countries (including India) was active till early June 1967. Its Commander from Dec 1959 to Jan 1964 was Lt. Gen PS Gyani, and from Jan 1966 to June 1967 Maj. Gen Inder Jit Rikye led it. Nehru himself had addressed the Indian contingent at the Gaza Strip on May 20 1960. The Six-Day War followed immediately after the departure of the UN Emergency Force,” Ramesh said in his post.

India disagreeing with UK, France and the US

Earlier, in September 1956, V.K. Krishna Menon, who would become the Union defence minister in 1957, had read out a statement in the Parliament on behalf of prime minister Nehru that reflected India’s distinct stand on the Suez Canal issue.

“The House knows of our earnest efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement in regard to the Suez Canal. It has been clear to us that any other approach to this problem or any attempt to impose a decision would not only not bring about the results aimed at, but might lead to much graver consequences, the extent of which it is not possible to foresee,” Menon had told the Parliament on behalf of PM Nehru.

It also becomes evident from the statement of Nehru read by Menon in the Parliament that India didn’t shy away from disagreeing with the stand taken by global superpowers such as the United Kingdom, France and the United States.

“From the press reports of Sir Anthony Eden's speech yesterday it is not possible to assess fully the meaning and import of the actions said to be contemplated by the Governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States and until we have fuller reports through official sources. The action proposed lo be taken by the three Governments, which purports to be in the interests of the users of the Canal and to maintain freedom of the use of the Canal, seems, to say the least, surprising and the consequences (hat may flow from it may well be very grave. One thing is clear, and thai is that the action proposed is not the result of agreement, co-operation or consent, but is to be taken unilaterally and thus in (he nature of an imposed decision (sic),” the statement had said.

“The Government of India deeply regret this development which is very unusual and will render peaceful settlements more difficult of realisation. It is not calculated to secure to the users peaceful and secure use of the Canal, which should be, and is, what is required by the users and the international community,” it added.

Moreover, Nehru’s  1960 address to the Indian contingent on Gaza Strip, which is available on the website of the Nehru Archive, reflects the importance that the first Indian prime minister ascribed to the role of the UN and also his acknowledgement of the sufferings of people from the region.

“​I am particularly happy to find here a spirit of cooperation between the various countries representing in this U.N. Emergency Force and also between all of them and the authorities and people here in the Gaza Strip. As with any important work — important or unimportant — that has to be undertaken, it is I think, basic that the approach should be one of cooperation and friendliness and not merely the performance of some allotted task,” Nehru had said in his address on May 1960.

Nehru's support for the UN

“Of course, the tasks have to be performed but the manner of doing them the spirit that lies behind them is. I think, of the highest importance. Probably many of our problems, however serious they might be, would be easier of solution if this friendly approach, this cooperative approach was adopted. And the United Nations represent this friendly and cooperative approach,” Nehru had said.

The first Indian prime minister had also met members of the Indian contingent and interacted with them.

“Again, I will repeat that what has pleased me most is this atmosphere of cooperation, internally within the different contingents and especially with the people of this country who have lived here in a state of tension for many years, are excited and have strong feelings and it is a good thing that in this atmosphere of tension and difficulty the soothing influence of this force has come. Certainly it has not solved the major problem, but it has produced an atmosphere of less tension and peace and cooperation,” Nehru had said.

With inputs from Anirudh S.K.

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