{"id":24547,"date":"2025-04-29T10:18:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T08:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shaf-back.imholding.co.uk\/?p=24547"},"modified":"2025-04-29T10:19:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T08:19:27","slug":"analyzing-trumps-remarks-on-the-suez-and-panama-canals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shaf-back.imholding.co.uk\/en\/analyzing-trumps-remarks-on-the-suez-and-panama-canals\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyzing Trump’s Remarks on the Suez and Panama Canals"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Laila Ahmed<\/h2>\n

(Research Assistant at the International Affairs Unit)<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cAmerican ships, both military and commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez canals!\u201d Trump posted on Saturday on social media. A post that sparked outrage, condemnation, and even mockery across<\/strong> the globe.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

His demands although could be labeled \u201cdangerous\u201d or \u201cinsane\u201d or even \u201ccolonial\u201d as they obviously contradict the international law and the Constantinople Convention, they sound predictable or normal I could say from a man like Trump. Bear in mind that his unorthodox unpredictable foreign policy is facing a more volatile geopolitical landscape with many autonomous actors in the new multipolar world thus he is pursuing every opportunity in the most chaotic way.<\/h4>\n

\u00a0On 26 April, President Donald Trump has demanded free transit for American commercial and military ships through the Panama and Suez canals, two strategic routes for international trade and military operations asking his his secretary of state Marco Rubio to immediately take care of the situation. He then added that “Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America”. Trump has for months been calling for the United States to take control of the Panama canal,but his social media post also brought attention to the crucial Suez Canal.[1]<\/a><\/h4>\n

Strategic importance of Panama and Suez Canals <\/strong><\/h2>\n

While The Panama Canal connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean, The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Both are crucial for international trade because they reduce shipping costs and time, while also giving militaries a quick way to move between oceans, strengthening geopolitical influence.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cChina is operating the Panama Canal and we didn\u2019t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we\u2019re taking it back.\u201d A strong message sent by Trump back in February. As revealed earlier, Trump has frequently criticized Panama\u2019s management of the canal showing some intentions to retake the waterway from Panama even if it takes using the military to do so based on the fact that the United States built the canal in the early 1900s and returned it to Panama in 1977.<\/h4>\n

Additionally, The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by crossing the narrowest part of the Central American isthmus, is a critical global trade route, handling about 40% of U.S. container traffic annually.\u00a0[3]<\/a><\/h4>\n

Meanwhile, Egypt\u2019s Suez Canal, a key waterway linking Europe and Asia, accounted for about 10% of global maritime trade before attacks by Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Ships have been compelled to make the expensive and time-consuming diversion around Africa’s southern edge as a result. In 2024, Egypt reported a 60% decline in canal revenues, resulting in a $7billion loss. Therefore, The US military has been attacking Houthi positions since January 2024. Trump has said military action will continue until the Houthis are no longer a threat to shipping.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/h4>\n

US President Donald Trump\u2019s controversial statement asking for a free passage through the Suez Canal has caused controversy in Egypt as the canal holds immense national and historical significance. The Suez Canal was built by the French-led Suez Canal Company in the 19th century. Great Britain sought the control of the Canal in an alliance with the French and Israelis before President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the waterway in 1956. Although there have been no official responses in Cairo, Trump’s calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and his declaration that US ships would not be charged for accessing the Suez Canal are further straining US-Egyptian ties.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Motives behind Trump\u2019s statement <\/strong><\/h2>\n