Trump wants free passage for US ships through Panama and Suez canals

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for U.S. military and commercial ships to be granted free passage through the Panama and Suez Canals, two of the world’s most crucial maritime trade routes.

In a post on his Truth Social platform late on April 26, Trump stated, “Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America,” emphasizing that the U.S. played a pivotal role in their creation and maintenance, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Trump further urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to "immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation," signaling his intention to take action on the matter. His comments reflect ongoing concerns about the management of these strategic waterways.

The Panama Canal, a vital link connecting the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, was constructed by the U.S. in the early 1900s but was handed back to Panama in 1977 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Trump has previously criticized Panama's control over the canal, even hinting at the possibility of using military force to reclaim the waterway. In December, Trump also accused China of increasing its influence over the canal, while alleging that Panama was charging “exorbitant prices and rates of passage.”

Similarly, the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, has long been a critical route for global shipping and military operations. Both canals significantly reduce shipping time and costs, making them key players in international commerce and geopolitics.

In response, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino took to social media, reiterating that the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), an independent governing body, oversees vessel transits and rates. “There is no agreement to the contrary,” Mulino added, directly addressing concerns over U.S. access and asserting the canal's sovereignty.

Egypt's Suez Canal, a key waterway linking Europe and Asia, accounted for about 10% of global maritime trade before attacks by Yemen's Huthi rebels on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Iran-backed rebels began targeting vessels after the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians, forcing ships to take a long and costly detour around the southern tip of Africa.

Egypt said last year its canal revenues had plunged 60%, a loss of $7 billion.

The US military has been attacking Houthi positions since January 2024, but those assaults have intensified under Trump, with almost daily strikes in the past month. Trump has vowed that military action would continue until the Houthis are no longer a threat to shipping.

By Khagan Isayev