Trump demands that American ships pass through the Suez and Panama Canals for free.

In a provocative statement, American President Donald Trump called for allowing American ships, both military and commercial, to pass freely through the Suez and Panama Canals without charge. Trump emphasized in a post on his social platform "Truth Social" that the United States should have the right to free passage through these strategic canals, noting that "these canals would not exist without the United States." This stance comes in the context of Trump's continued insistence on regaining control of the Panama Canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 after the United States completed its construction in the early twentieth century. Trump also stated that he has instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take immediate action to achieve this demand, potentially opening the door to imposing sanctions on countries controlling these canals if the request is rejected. The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important maritime passages, with about 40% of American container traffic passing through it annually, while the Suez Canal also provides a vital passage for many commercial and military ships connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Observers expect the debate on this issue to escalate, especially since Trump had previously stated that using economic or military force might be an option to regain control of the Panama Canal, potentially leading to new tensions in international relations.