East of Suez

East of Suez

The phrase East of Suez is used in British military and political discussions in reference to imperial interests beyond the European theatre (sometimes including, sometime excluding the Middle East).

The origin of the phrase is a quotation from the poem "Mandalay", written by Rudyard Kipling, which became a popular song when a tune was added by Oley Speaks.

:"Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,":"Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;"

Previously, the empire's military infrastructure drew on sea lanes of communication through the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, alternatively round the Cape of Good Hope to India and on to East Asia and Australia. With the end of empire, which began with Indian independence (1947), there was a gradual draw down of the military presence "east of Suez". In 1967, Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his Defence Secretary, Denis Healey, announced that British troops would be withdrawn in 1971 from major military bases in South East Asia, primarily in Malaysia, Singapore and Aden, which is when the phrase in that context entered the vernacular.

In June 1970, Edward Heath's government came to power and retained a small political and military commitment to South East Asia through the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Prior to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, Britain based several units in Hong Kong.

As of 2007, Britain maintains the School of Jungle Warfare in Brunei and a battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, in addition to some aircraft of the Army Air Corps. There is also a small British military presence remaining on Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

External link

*


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Suez Crisis — The Tripartite Aggression The Sinai War Part of the Cold War and the Arab–Israeli conflict …   Wikipedia

  • Suez Canal —    A 100 mile long sea level canal in Egypt, across the isthmus of Suez between Port Said on the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Suez at the north end of the Red Sea, opened in 1869. It was built by a French consortium led by Ferdinand de Lesseps,… …   Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914

  • Suez Canal — Suez Canal, as seen from Earth orbit Original owner Suez Canal Company (Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez) Construction began …   Wikipedia

  • Suez Canal — a canal in NE Egypt, cutting across the Isthmus of Suez and connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. 107 mi. (172 km) long. * * * Ship canal, Isthmus of Suez, Egypt. Connecting the Red Sea with the eastern Mediterranean Sea, it extends 100… …   Universalium

  • East African Campaign (World War II) — Warbox conflict=East African Campaign partof=African Campaigns, World War II campaign= caption=Personnel from the King s African Rifles (KAR) collect weapons (mostly Carcano 1891 rifles) captured from Italian forces at Wolchefit Pass, Ethiopia,… …   Wikipedia

  • Suez Canal Container Terminal — Infobox Company company name = Suez Canal Container Terminal SCCT company company type = Private foundation = 2000 location = Port Said, Egypt key people = Jens Floe (CEO) Kim Holtermand (COO) industry = Transport, Terminals homepage = http://www …   Wikipedia

  • Suez Crisis — a series of events that took place in 1956 when the Egyptian government nationalized the Suez Canal. The two main owners of the canal, Britain and France, attacked Egypt by air and sent groups of soldiers to attack on land. This caused many… …   Universalium

  • Suez, Gulf of — Northwestern extension of the Red Sea. It is located between Africa and the Sinai Peninsula and is roughly 195 mi (314 km) long and 12–20 mi (19–32 km) wide. Linked to the Mediterranean Sea by the Suez Canal, it is an important shipping route. In …   Universalium

  • East China Sea — Not to be confused with South China Sea. For other uses, see East Sea (Chinese mythology). Coordinates: 30°N 125°E / 30°N 125°E …   Wikipedia

  • East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry — Infobox Military Unit unit name=East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry caption= dates= 1794 1967 country=United Kingdom branch=British Army type=Yeomanry command structure= role= size= One Regiment Commanding Officer= garrison= Commanding Officer=… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”