British and French Finance Before Nationalisation

Britain and France were Egypt's largest outside investors before the crisis and supplied many of the loans on which the government operated. From their perspective, this money meant they were helping Egypt while negotiating for continued access and influence. Nasser instead saw dependence on foreign capital as a constraint on the industrial and political independence he wanted. Nationalisation was part of a wider struggle over finance, development, and bargaining power, not an isolated dispute about canal tolls.