Trump says American ships should 'immediately' be allowed free travel through Panama and Suez canals
President Donald Trump has called for American military and commercial ships to be allowed to travel through the Panama and Suez Canals for free.
In a post to his Truth Social, Trump said: 'American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals!
'Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. I've asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!'
Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to 'take back' the canal before he took office in January.
His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed last month that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal.
The US Southern Command has developed an array of potential plans to ensure the America has full access to the Panama Canal, two military sources confirmed to Reuters.
Draft strategies reportedly range from partnering closely with Panamanian security forces to using American troops to forcibly seize the waterway, which officials say is the less likely option.
Officials allege Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of US Southern Command, presented the proposals to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed earlier this week that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal
Trump has asserted that the US needs to take back the canal because China controls it and could use the waterway to undermine American interests.
Any move by a foreign power to take the canal by force would almost certainly violate international law.
A US invasion of Panama is unlikely, the insiders cautioned, telling NBC News that such a move would only be seriously considered if increased presence of American troops in the area did not achieve Trump's goal to 'take back' the canal.
Trump has said repeatedly he wants to 'take back' the waterway, but has not offered specifics about how he would do so, or if military action might be required.
One insider said a document, described as an interim national security guidance by the new administration, called on the military to look at military options to safeguard access to the canal.
A second official said the US military had a wide array of potential options to safeguard access, including ensuring a close partnership with Panama's military.
The Panama Canal cross the narrowest part between North and South America, which allows ships to move quickly between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. It is considered one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
The U.S. completed construction of the canal in the early 20th century but gave control of the strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999.
The US and Panama are treaty-bound to defend the canal against any threat to its neutrality and are permitted to take unilateral action to do so.
The Suez meanwhile connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, accounting for 10 to 12 percent of global trade.
In his inaugural speech in January, Trump repeated accusations that Panama has broken the promises it made for the final transfer of the canal in 1999.
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