US President Donald Trump on Sunday demanded free passage for American military and commercial ships through the Panama and Suez Canals, instructing his Secretary of State to move swiftly on the matter.

According to foreign media reports, President Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that American ships—both military and commercial—should be allowed to transit the Panama and Suez Canals without paying any tolls.

He claimed that neither of these strategic waterways “would exist without America” and stated that he had directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “immediately address the situation.”

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, without directly naming Trump, responded on X (formerly Twitter) by clarifying that the Panama Canal’s toll fees are regulated by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), an autonomous government entity. He asserted, “There is no agreement to the contrary.”

Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama City and mentioned that the US is seeking an agreement to allow its warships “priority and free” passage through the Panama Canal.

Trump has been pushing for American control over the Panama Canal for several months. However, his latest social media post also shifted attention toward Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Trump argued that both canals “could not operate without America’s support” and reiterated his directive to Secretary Rubio to urgently pursue the matter.

The Suez Canal, a critical maritime route connecting Europe and Asia, previously accounted for about 10% of global seaborne trade. However, following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who claim solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict, global shipping has been disrupted, forcing vessels to take longer, costlier routes around Africa’s southern tip.

Last year, Egypt reported a 60% drop in canal revenues, leading to a loss of approximately $7 billion.

Since January 2024, US forces have launched strikes against Houthi positions. Under Trump’s leadership, these strikes have intensified, with near-daily operations reported last month.

President Trump has vowed that military operations will continue as long as the Houthis pose a threat to international shipping.