President Donald Trump on Saturday called for US military and commercial vessels to be granted free passage through both the Panama and Suez Canals, intensifying his push to reassert American influence over vital global shipping lanes.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ”immediately take care of, and memorialise, this situation,” arguing that the United States played a foundational role in the existence and continued operation of both canals.
The Panama Canal, completed by the US in the early 20th century and handed over to Panama in 1999, remains a critical artery for global trade—especially between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Nearly 40 per cent of US container traffic passes through it each year. The canal is also a key route for both American and Chinese shipping.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has renewed pressure on Chinese port operators near the Panama Canal and floated aggressive measures to curb Beijing’s maritime influence.
In February, Panama promised to grant free passage to US warships after Trump criticized China’s growing footprint near the waterway and hinted at potential action to “take it back.”
ensions have also flared over a proposed sale of Panamanian port assets from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd to a consortium led by US investment giant BlackRock Inc., a deal opposed by China and financial hurdles with Panama.
Trump’s latest remarks extended that attention to the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea through Egypt. The canal is a strategic chokepoint for US naval operations and global commerce, particularly energy shipments.
The call for toll-free access aligns with Trump’s broader strategy to revitalize the US shipbuilding industry and challenge China’s dominance in commercial shipping.
“We’re not going to let other countries control what we built,” Trump said in a recent interview, hinting that both economic and military options remain on the table.
