Sanctions and public pressure were plausible American responses, while direct military action against two leading allies was extraordinarily unlikely. The United States already carried worldwide commitments and would weaken its own Cold War position by fighting Britain and France. A Soviet bomber campaign also risked striking an American base in Britain by mistake, which could turn political support for the allies into direct military involvement. Washington had an incentive to restrain the operation once it appeared politically unsuccessful, yet could have accepted a rapid outcome that removed Nasser and internationalised the canal. Soviet action supplies the most credible route from an alliance dispute to a shooting war involving the superpowers.
Notable Point · 1:48:42-1:50:27
American Sanctions Before American Gunfire
Washington was far likelier to apply economic pressure than to attack Britain and France unless Soviet intervention transformed the crisis.