France and the Commonwealth of Nations at times, it has been suggested that France join the Commonwealth. In 1956, during the Suez Crisis, during which France and the United Kingdom's interests in the Middle East aligned, it was proposed by French Prime Minister Guy Mollet that France and the UK create a Franco-British Union, with common citizenship and Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. His British counterpart, Anthony Eden, instead proposed that France join the Commonwealth, with Commonwealth citizenship rights and recognising the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. However, this was rejected by Mollet. La Francophonie, which was founded to promote the French language
Suez Veterans' Association Suez Veterans' Association The Suez Veterans' Association is an association of those who served in the British Armed Forces and civilian support units in the Suez Canal Zone between 1939 and 1956 (the Suez Crisis). It was formed on the 15 April 1997 and membership is open to all British armed forces, nursing services and civilian support staff who served in the Suez Canal Zone. In June 2003 veterans were able to claim the Naval General Service Medal and the General Service Medal with Canal Zone clasp for serving in the Suez Canal Zone of Egypt between 16 October 1951