According to comprehensive reports from Reuters and The Hill, US President Donald Trump stated on April 26 via his social media platform that US ships should be granted free passage through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal.
"American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals!" Trump wrote in his post. He further claimed, "Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America." Additionally, Trump noted that he had directed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to handle the matter.
The Hill reported that it had reached out to the US State Department for comment on Trump's statements.
This is not the first time Trump has raised the issue of the Panama Canal. Following his return to the White House, Trump repeatedly asserted the need to "reclaim" the Panama Canal. In response, Panama has strongly refuted his claims multiple times. On March 5, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted on social media, accusing Donald Trump of "lying" about Washington taking back the Panama Canal. He also stressed that the Canal will forever stay under Panama's control.
The Suez Canal, a vital waterway linking Europe and Asia, has also drawn Trump's attention. US Navy vessels frequently transit the Suez Canal. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023, tensions in the Red Sea region have escalated. Yemen's Houthi forces have used drones and missiles to target Israeli and allied assets in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, calling for Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza. Since March 15, the US military has launched large-scale airstrikes against Houthi forces, which retaliated by striking US aircraft carriers and their escort ships. The situation in the region remains highly volatile.
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