Trump says US ships should travel free through Panama, Suez canals

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American military and commercial ships should be allowed to travel through the Panama Canal and Suez Canal free of charge, escalating his push to secure greater American control over key global shipping routes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation.”
“American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals!” Trump wrote. “They would not exist without the United States!”

The Panama Canal, completed by the US in the early 20th century, cuts through the narrow isthmus connecting North and South America, allowing faster movement between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It currently handles about 40 percent of US container traffic annually. Although Washington managed the canal for decades, control was transferred to Panama in 1999.

Trump has repeatedly voiced regret over that handover, saying he wants to "take back" the canal. Before returning to office in January, he even suggested he would not rule out using economic or military pressure to regain control. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz backed Trump’s call, saying the US "shouldn't have to pay to use a canal" it built.

The Suez Canal, a vital link between the Mediterranean and Red seas, offers the fastest sea route between Europe and the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Like the Panama Canal, it charges significant transit fees, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the vessel's size and cargo.

The Trump administration has also been working to limit China's influence in Panama. In February, Panama announced it was withdrawing from Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative following pressure from Washington and a visit by Rubio.

While Trump's previous comments mostly targeted the Panama Canal, his latest post expanded the focus to include the Suez Canal in Egypt — a critical passageway for global commerce.

It remains unclear how Trump intends to achieve free passage for US ships through two canals operated by foreign governments, but his comments underline his administration’s broader efforts to reassert US dominance over strategic infrastructure.