The British-French Rivalry over the Suez Canal Project (1869–1875)
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Abstract
The opening of the Suez Canal on November 17, 1869 AD was an important turning point in the history of the Red Sea region on the one hand, and in the history of the British-French rivalry on the other hand. Since then, Britain sought to increase its influence in that region, citing many pretexts, as it sought to control Egypt. To control the Suez Canal, the northern key to the Red Sea, while it maintained control over Aden and the surrounding area as it was the southern key to this sea. However, Britain was not alone in the field, but there were other powers competing with it, the most important of which was France, which supervised the Suez Canal project. Especially since it had previously sought, since its arrival in Egypt in the late eighteenth century, to cut off the road between Britain and India. It also fought the Suez Canal project to prevent its completion, but after the canal was officially opened for navigation, it changed its attitude and moved to benefit from it. It also made sure that no other country would control it or the management of its company so that this would not affect its interests in the Red Sea. Therefore, it took advantage of the opportunity and bought Egyptian shares from Khedive Ismail in the year 1875 AD. and then won the largest share in its administration, and thus achieved everything they aspired to by monopolizing control over the Red Sea region.
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References
First: Documents:
• Records of the British Foreign Office (F.O.).
Second: Arabic Sources:
Ahmed Abdel Rahim Mustafa, Relations of Egypt with Turkey during the Era of Khedive Ismail (1863–1879), Dar Al-Maaref, Cairo, 1967.
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Third: Foreign Sources:
(To be completed if there are specific foreign references provided.)
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