Trump's unusual claim about the Panama and Suez Canals

US President Donald Trump, in a message on the social network Truth Social, called for free passage of US commercial and military ships through the Panama and Suez Canals.

“I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation,” he said in his post.

He emphasized in this post: "United States ships, whether military or commercial, should be able to pass through the Panama and Suez Canals without paying a fee. These routes would not have been formed at all without the role of the United States."

Trump has also asked Marco Rubio, his administration's Secretary of State, to immediately put this issue on the agenda.

The Panama Canal crosses the narrowest part of the isthmus between North and South America, allowing ships to move more quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It carries about 40 per cent of U.S. container traffic each year.

The U.S. completed construction of the canal in the early 20th century but gave control of the strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999.

Trump has said repeatedly that he wants to “take back” the canal. Before taking office in January, he told reporters that he would not rule out using economic or military force to regain control over the canal.

Both canals charge substantial transit fees, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on vessel size and cargo. It's to be noted that the Trump administration has also been working to reduce China's influence over the Panama Canal.

Following these statements, the US National Security Advisor also claimed that his country should not pay a fee to pass through the waterways that it has provided security for.

Trump's stance sparked mixed reactions in Panama and Egypt. Some critics saw his remarks as interference in the internal affairs of countries and an insult to national sovereignty. In Egypt, this view provoked strong reactions, especially on social media, with many users noting that the Suez Canal is much older than the history of the United States.

Some Egyptian diplomatic sources also stated in an interview with RT that the management of the Suez Canal is a matter entirely related to Egyptian sovereignty and that the waterway operates based on the 1888 Treaty of Constantinople, a treaty that guaranteed free passage to all countries in return for paying the same fee.

Dr. Ayman Salameh, an international law expert in Egypt, responded to Trump's statements regarding the request for free passage of American ships, calling the request contrary to international law and a clear disregard for Egypt's sovereign rights.

He noted that the Suez Canal, as a vital route for global trade, is governed under strict and transparent Egyptian laws, and specific regulations have been set for the payment of transit fees and exceptions.