U.S. President Trump advocates for unrestricted passage of American naval vessels through the Panama and Suez waterways.
Donald Trump Demands Free Passage for US Ships Through Panama and Suez Canals
Washington D.C. - On a recent post on his Truth Social platform, former US President Donald Trump boldly declared that American commercial and military ships should sail freely through the Panama and Suez Canals. He backed up this claim, stating that both routes were essentially constructed by the United States and thus, they should be entitled to this privilege.
However, it seems that Trump may have jumped the gun as crucial issues regarding this matter are far from resolved.
American warships have been in discussions to secure priority passage and travel free of charge, especially after the recent visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Panama City where talks of this nature took place. However, it's important to note that there's no official agreement as of yet.
The Panamanian government, through President Jose Raul Mojino, recently clarified that toll fees for the Panama Canal are regulated by the autonomous Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Mojino assured that there is no deal in place that would allow the United States free passage.
Recent efforts by the U.S. in relation to the Panama Canal have centered around enhanced military cooperation and countering Chinese influence. The US and Panama signed an agreement enabling US troops to deploy near the canal for security purposes, such as joint exercises and infrastructure upgrades. There have also been concerns regarding Chinese control over strategic ports, specifically a $23 billion deal for BlackRock to acquire Hutchison's ports that has since stalled due to Chinese regulatory interference.
Conversely, there's no record of recent U.S. efforts to secure transit rights or control over the Suez Canal. The available information exclusively addresses the Panama Canal developments.
It appears that Trump's call for free passage through the Panama and Suez Canals may not be as straightforward as it seems. While the U.S. has been working to counter Chinese strategic threats in Panama, there's no indication that the United States is seeking direct control over either canal or the Suez Canal, as Trump's statement might suggest.
Mulino recently urged Trump to reconsider his stance on free passage for US ships through the Panama and Suez Canals, emphasizing the importance of adhering to war-and-conflicts policy and legislation in politics. General news outlets have reported that while the US has been discussing priority passage for American warships through the Panama Canal, no official agreement has been reached yet. The Panamanian president, Jose Raul Mojino, has clarified that toll fees for the Panama Canal are regulated by the autonomous Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and that there is no deal for the US to have free passage. The US and Panama have been focusing on enhanced military cooperation and countering Chinese influence, with the recent signing of an agreement allowing US troops to deploy near the Panama Canal. However, there's no record of recent efforts by the US to secure transit rights or control over the Suez Canal.
