Egypt History Review

Foreign policy of Gamal Abdel Nasser Relationship with the Soviet Union The Suez Crisis also drove Egypt into a closer relationship with the Soviet Union . As a part of this new relationship, the Soviets agreed to provide approximately one-third of the cost of the Aswan High Dam and provided four hundred technicians to aid in the construction. Construction of the dam began on January 1, 1960 and was completed in 1970. Its reservoir was named Lake Nasser, honoring Nasser . As it was hoped, the dam was able to produce substantial electric power, 2.1 gigawatts, and is still standing today. During his official visit to Egypt on May 9-26, 1964, Nikita Khrushchev awarded Nasser the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin . VIDEO Like many other Arab nationalist leaders , Gamal Abdel Nasser was a strong proponent of Arab Socialism , and his economic policies were characterized by a centrally planned economy, state subsidies, and state ownership of bus