Former President Donald Trump has called for American vessels to be allowed to pass through the Panama and Suez Canals without paying any fees, stating that these key waterways owe their existence to the United States.
On Saturday, Trump shared his views on the issue via his Truth Social platform, writing: “American ships, both military and commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals.” He emphasized that these canals would not have been built without the support of the U.S., further instructing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “immediately take care of and memorialize this situation.”
Trump’s stance was echoed by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who argued that the U.S. should not have to pay to use the Panama Canal, which it originally constructed.
The Panama Canal, located in Panama, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, while the Suez Canal in Egypt links the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Both canals provide essential maritime routes, with the Suez Canal offering the shortest path between Europe and the Indian Ocean, as well as the western Pacific.
Currently, both canals impose significant transit fees, which can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the size and cargo of the vessel.
The U.S. has been working to counteract China’s growing influence over the Panama Canal, which the U.S. built more than 120 years ago before transferring control to Panama in 1999. Earlier this year, Panama withdrew from China’s Belt and Road Initiative after U.S. pressure, following a visit from Rubio.
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