Sun Apr 27 11:42:04 UTC 2025: ## Trump Demands Free Canal Passage for US Ships Amidst Suez Crisis

**Washington, D.C. -** U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a demand for free passage of American commercial and military vessels through the Panama and Suez canals, escalating tensions with Panama and Egypt. In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the U.S. should not pay tolls, claiming both canals wouldn’t exist without American involvement. He directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to secure this immediately.

This demand follows months of Trump advocating for U.S. control of the Panama Canal. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino countered that toll fees are regulated by an autonomous authority, rejecting Trump’s claim. The statement comes after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent request for preferential, free passage for U.S. warships through the Panama Canal.

The Suez Canal’s importance is heightened by recent disruptions. Attacks by Huthi rebels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in solidarity with Palestinians, have forced ships to take lengthy detours around the Cape of Good Hope, causing a reported 60% revenue plunge for Egypt, amounting to a $7 billion loss. The U.S. military has intensified its attacks on Huthi positions since January 2024, under Trump’s order, in an effort to secure shipping routes. Both the Panama and Suez canals are crucial global trade routes, with the U.S. and China among their heaviest users. Trump’s actions are likely to further strain already tense international relations.

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