U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement calling for free passage of American vessels through the Suez Canal has ignited widespread condemnation in Egypt. Trump’s post on Truth Social, a platform he majority-owns, suggested that U.S. military and commercial ships should not have to pay transit fees through both the Suez and Panama Canals. He argued that these routes “would not exist” without U.S. involvement and requested that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio address the issue immediately.
Egyptian legal experts, political leaders, and citizens have swiftly denounced Trump’s remarks as not only legally unfounded but also as a serious threat to international peace and sovereignty. Ayman Salama, a professor of international law at Cairo University, described Trump’s statement as “legally baseless,” emphasizing that it disregards the sovereignty of coastal states over territorial waters. He pointed to the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which guarantees the right of all nations to benefit from the Suez Canal, and warned that such claims could lead to violations of international law.
Samaa Soliman, deputy chairperson of Egypt’s Foreign, Arab, and African Affairs Committee, reinforced Egypt’s sole responsibility for securing and protecting the Suez Canal. Soliman emphasized that the canal’s revenues are a critical resource for Egypt’s economy and cannot be compromised. She further criticized Trump’s comments as interference in Egypt’s internal affairs and contrary to the principle of mutual respect between sovereign states.
The controversy has sparked fierce reactions across Egyptian society, with many seeing Trump’s remarks as a manifestation of a colonial mindset. Sayed Abdel Aal, leader of Egypt’s Tagammu Party, called the statement “economic colonialism in a new garment.” Furthermore, the Egyptian Parties Alliance, a coalition of 42 political parties, condemned Trump’s comments, highlighting that they ignore historical facts about the canal’s significance to Egypt.
The Suez Canal, a vital global trade route since its opening in 1869, remains a powerful symbol of Egyptian pride, especially following its nationalization by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1956. As tensions rise, the international community watches closely as Egypt defends its rights to the canal.
