WI:Soviet Union helps Egypt

We all know about the Suez Crisis. But lets say the three Allies don't back down. The Soviets then making thier promise to Egypt, come to thier allie's aid, to hold the Canal from Isreal, the UK, and France.

1: Would the combined power of the Soviets be enough for Egypt to hold off the three or even defeat them miltary wise?

2:Could World War 3 start over this?

3:What and will the US and the rest of the NATO members do in this scenario?

Enjoy comrades! -ND4
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
We all know about the Suez Crisis. But lets say the three Allies don't back down. The Soviets then making thier promise to Egypt, come to thier allie's aid, to hold the Canal from Isreal, the UK, and France.
The idea that the USSR was going to support Nasser is nothing short of myth. The majority of the Politburo very much disliked Nasser, openly called him a "fascist," and were horrified at Khrushchev and Bulganin's bluff, which was only made to distract people from the crisis in Hungary.
1: Would the combined power of the Soviets be enough for Egypt to hold off the three or even defeat them miltary wise?
No, Egypt's screwed. Soviet forces are tied up in Hungary and they have no way of even getting to Egypt before the Tripartite Powers smash Nasser's military just as they did IOTL.
2:Could World War 3 start over this?
No. None of the sides (except maybe Nasser) would be willing to start a WW over this.
3:What and will the US and the rest of the NATO members do in this scenario?
If the US just sits back and lets the Tripartite Powers invade, then they and the rest of NATO (which wasn't exactly sympathetic to the Anglo-French aggression) pressure Britain and France to stop the moment they think that it may lead to a bigger war with the Warsaw Pact.
 
Without the air or naval capacity to deploy these forces, with the Suez Canal already largely controlled by the British, French and Israelis and with Moscow already staking the national reputation and military on Hungary none of this is going to happen.
 
The Soviets didn't have the expeditionary capability necessary to get a significant force to Suez in time. The only means they had would have been to try and fly in paratroopers but the British and French owned the skies over Egypt and could have shot down the transports. Even if they did make it there what could lightly armed paratroops have done against the heavy armour the British and French had?

As said above Khruschev's threat was a smokescreen to try and divert attention from Hungary. Had he tried to carry it out then it most likely would have been a Soviet humiliation and an earlier deposition of Khruschev.
 
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