Gamal Abdel Nasser
1918 – 1970 Egyptian army officer, president, pan-Arab leader
The Egyptian leader who nationalized the Suez Canal and championed non-alignment and pan-Arabism.
- Religion
- Sunni Muslim
- Affiliations
- Free Officers Movement; Non-Aligned Movement
Gamal Abdel Nasser led the 1952 overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy and became president, a towering figure of pan-Arab nationalism. His 1956 nationalization of the Suez Canal triggered an invasion by Britain, France, and Israel that ended in their political defeat. A leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, he pursued state-led development and independence from both Cold War blocs.
In the timeline
- 1956 Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal mentioned
- 1956 Aswan Dam funding withdrawn, Suez Canal nationalized mentioned