Trump Demands Free Passage For US Ships Through Panama, Suez Canals

US President Trump proposed that American military and commercial ships should receive free passage through the Panama and Suez Canals, citing the US's role in their existence.

Trump has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “to immediately take care of, and memorialise, this situation”.

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US President Donald Trump said that American military and commercial ships should be allowed “free of charge” passage through the Panama Canal and Suez Canal.

On a Truth Social post, he wrote, “Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America,” adding that he has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “to immediately take care of, and memorialise, this situation”

Trump had already begun pushing for the removal of Chinese port operators near the Panama Canal shortly after his return to the White House in January. His post on Truth Social this Saturday also shifted focus to the Suez Canal — the vital waterway through Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, according to a Bloomberg report.

The Panama Canal carries about 40% of US container traffic each year. It crosses the narrowest part of the isthmus between North and South America, allowing ships to move more quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The US completed construction of the canal in the early 20th century but gave control of the strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999.

Ahead of taking the office, Trump had said repeatedly that he wants to "take back" the canal. He was reported by Reuters as saying that he wouldn’t rule out using economic or military force to regain control over the canal.

Trump has targeted Chinese commercial shipping and shipbuilding with measures such as tariffs and proposed port fees, aiming to revive the American shipbuilding industry. The US government argues that China’s dominance in this sector stems from unfair practices and represents a threat to American interests, reported Reuters.

US commercial shipbuilding, which was once considered a global leader, has declined sharply since the 1980s, driven by subsidy reductions and growing foreign competition.

In February, Panama pledged to grant free passage to U.S. warships through the canal, used primarily by the US and China, following Trump’s criticism of growing Chinese influence over the strategic waterway and his threat to “take it back.”

Meanwhile, a plan by CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd to sell its Panamanian port assets to a BlackRock Inc.-led consortium has faced resistance from China and become entangled in a financial dispute with Panama.