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Al-Ahram Weekly
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptians reject free passage through canal - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Trump's proposal that American ships should pass through the Suez Canal 'free of charge' was lashed out by MPs and political experts '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,' posted US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform on 26 April. The Republican president added that he has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take care of the situation. Some Western media reports claimed Trump raised the issue in a phone call with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi four weeks ago, presenting the proposal as Egypt's 'contribution' to US efforts to end Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping which have negatively impacted Suez Canal revenues. Trump's post appeared a few weeks after the US Federal Shipping Commission announced an investigation into 'global maritime choke points', including the Suez Canal, and 'unfavourable conditions' for US trade.00 Professors of international law, maritime trade experts, and MPs pushed back against Trump's suggestion. Ibrahim Al-Anani, professor of international law at Ain Shams University, said Egypt has every right to impose fees on ships passing through the Suez Canal and has been doing so since the 1888 Constantinople Convention. Any attempt by another state to impinge on Egypt's right to regulate traffic through the Suez Canal violates international law and constitutes interference in Egypt's internal affairs. Al-Anani explained that the Constantinople Convention guarantees freedom of navigation for all commercial and military vessels, except for those belonging to countries at war with Egypt, and provided military vessels do not stop in the canal and unload troops or military equipment. In a Facebook post, professor of international law Ayman Salama argued that Trump's demand that US shipping be exempted from paying transit fees 'lacks any legal or logical basis' and 'ignores the principles of equality between states and the rule of international law'. 'Traffic in the Suez Canal is regulated by the Constantinople Convention which gives Egypt the absolute right to charge fees against passing through the canal,' said Salama. Major General Osama Mahmoud, senior advisor at Egypt's Military Command and Staff College, told Al-Arabiya TV channel that the 1888 Convention recognises the Suez Canal as an international shipping lane through which all countries have the right to pass in return for paying agreed-upon fees. Mahmoud inferred that in saying 'the Suez Canal would not exist without the US,' Trump is suggesting that 'the US is protecting the Suez Canal from the Houthi attacks, and that Egypt should contribute to America's military campaign against the Houthis through exempting its ships from the fees required for passing through the canal.' A month ago, Trump announced that the US army would target the Iran-backed Houthis through daily strikes until they are no longer a threat to shipping in the Red Sea. Tayseer Matar, a member of the Senate and Secretary-General of the Egyptian Parties Alliance, told the Weekly that Trump's statement that the Suez Canal would not exist without the US is exaggerated. 'Egypt did not ask the US to attack the Houthis to protect the Suez Canal. Egypt can defend its own interests and firmly believes Houthi attacks will come to an end only when Israel stops its war on Gaza,' said Matar. 'The US' military campaign against the Houthis is mainly to protect Israel and American military and commercial ships which have faced Houthi rocket attacks since the war erupted in Gaza in October 2023.' Gamal Zahran, professor of political science at Suez Canal University and a former independent MP, notes that 'Egypt's official reaction to Trump's controversial statement has been cool.' 'Egyptian officials do not like to become involved in verbal clashes with foreign leaders, particularly the US, with which Egypt has a strategic relationship,' said Zahran. He believes talk about the free passage of US ships is an attempt to ratchet up political pressure. 'Trump is a businessman who does not understand the language of international law and believes that nothing is free, that countries around the world should pay against American services,' said Zahran. Trump wants Western Europe to increase its contributions to NATO, rich Arab Gulf countries to invest trillions in the US, Ukraine to give concessions in return for US military assistance, and 'is seeking to extract concessions from Egypt in return for attacking the Houthis'. While Trump's push to displace Palestinians from Gaza and his suggestion US ships be exempted from canal fees are placing strains on US-Egypt relations, 'Egyptian officials are pragmatic and will refrain from issuing any direct comments on Trump's statements,' says Zahran. He ruled out that Egypt or Panama would exempt ships from transit fees since to do so erodes their sovereignty. Diplomatic sources in Washington told the Western media that Egypt has made no promises regarding free passage, focusing instead on political efforts to end the war in Gaza and ease tensions in the Red Sea. In parliament's plenary session on Sunday, independent MP and journalist Mustafa Bakri argued that while Trump's statement on the Suez Canal aims to exert pressure on Egypt to join the American military campaign against the Houthis, 'the true aim of this campaign is the militarisation and control of the Red Sea and domination over the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.' The Suez Canal was constructed by the French-led Suez Canal Company under Ferdinand de Lesseps. Work began in 1859 and was completed in 1869. Britain, France, and Israel launched a tripartite aggression against Egypt when late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser nationalised the canal in July 1956. The nationalisation asserted Egypt's full sovereignty over the canal and ended colonial claims. Ten per cent of global maritime trade normally passes through the canal. However, ongoing attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels against ships linked to Israel, America, and Britain have negatively affected the waterway. The number of ships transiting the canal has almost halved. President Al-Sisi said last month that Egypt's losses due to the Houthi attacks on shipping amounted to around $7 billion in one year. Revenues from the canal fell last year by 61 per cent, from around $10.2 billion in 2023 to $3.9 billion in 2024. * A version of this article appears in print in the 1 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Star
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Roundup: Trump's call for free U.S. passage through Suez Canal sparks outcry in Egypt
CAIRO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's recent call for free passage of American ships through the Suez Canal has triggered widespread condemnation in Egypt, where legal experts, political leaders, and citizens have denounced his remarks as legally groundless and a serious threat to the international order. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social, a social media platform he majority-owns, that U.S. military and commercial vessels should be allowed to travel through both the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal free of charge. He claimed both routes would "not exist" without the United States and said he had asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately "take care of, and memorialize, this situation." "Trump's proposals about international waterways constitute a serious threat to international peace, security, and public order," Ayman Salama, professor of international law at Cairo University, told Xinhua on Monday. Salama highlighted the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which established the fundamental principles governing international dealings with the Suez Canal, preserving the right of all countries to benefit from this global waterway. He said Trump's "legally baseless" claims, which ignore the sovereignty of coastal states over their territorial waters and straits, could lead to interference in countries' internal affairs, a clear violation of the general principle of non-interference of contemporary international law. Warning against disruption to international trade and harm to the global economy by U.S. interference, the Egyptian legal expert urged the international community to stand firm in defending international laws and conventions and take serious steps to safeguard the legal bases for navigation. Meanwhile, Samaa Soliman, deputy chairman of the Foreign, Arab, and African Affairs Committee of the Egyptian Senate, affirmed on Monday that "only Egypt is responsible for securing and protecting the Suez Canal," and the revenues generated from canal transit fees are a legitimate sovereign resource backing the national economy and serving Egyptian citizens, and shall not be impaired under any pretext or justification. The Egyptian senator termed Trump's call as "unjustified interference in the affairs of a sovereign state, and is inconsistent with the principle of mutual respect between states." Soliman said that the Suez Canal and the Egyptian economy have been harmed by the U.S. as its unfair policies on the Palestinian issue fueled the region's instability and failed to stop the Houthis in Yemen. Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal fell by more than 60 percent year-on-year in 2024 amid the Red Sea tensions, resulting in a loss of nearly 7 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA). Sayed Abdel Aal, president of Egypt's socialist Tagammu Party, said in a statement on Sunday that "(Trump's) remarks not only represent provocative rhetoric but also reveal a hateful colonial mentality." The party leader explained that canal fees are fair and are determined according to international standards, without discrimination, adding that the United States cannot impose exceptional conditions. "Trump's call can only be viewed as economic colonialism in a new garment," he added. Also on Sunday, the Egyptian Parties Alliance, which includes approximately 42 political parties, condemned Trump's statement, criticizing it as "ignoring historical facts." The controversy has ignited strong reactions on Egyptian social media, particularly regarding Trump's suggestion that the United States deserves credit for the canal's existence. "Our grandfathers built the Suez Canal with their blood when America was engulfed in civil war. We will continue the course of our ancestors, and Trump will not impose his conditions on us," read one widely shared post. The canal, which opened in 1869, has long been the linchpin of global trade, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Despite its complex colonial history under French and British control, the canal has remained a powerful symbol of national pride for Egyptians, particularly since its nationalization in 1956 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, a pivotal moment in Egypt's modern history.
See - Sada Elbalad
28-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Donald Trump: US Ships Should Enjoy Free Passage through Panama and Suez Canals
Basant Ahmed Advisor at the Strategic Studies Center of the Military Academy for Post-graduate Studies, Major General Dr. Wael Rabie, affirmed that the US President's statement contradicted legal principles related to freedom of navigation, national sovereignty, and relevant international treaties. Under international law, the Suez Canal lies within the territory of a sovereign state; it was built by Egyptian hands with Egyptian funding. Regulating its passage is an exclusively Egyptian decision. He added that all ships using international waterways must pay transit fees without discrimination, a rule that Egypt applies fairly to all countries. Ambassador Hussein Haridy, former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that reactions to the US President's remarks should be calm and prudent. He affirmed that Egyptian diplomacy was fully capable of handling the situation. He explained that the US position on the Panama Canal differed from that on the Suez Canal, as the United States played a role in constructing the Panama Canal. Ambassador Haridy pointed out that President Trump raised concerns over the Panama Canal and Chinese influence there during the start of his second term. However, he emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the Suez Canal were entirely different. Dr. Ayman Salama, Professor of International Law, explained that the 1888 Constantinople Convention states that the Suez Canal is 'neutral' regarding the setting of fees, privileges, and exemptions. He added that under Egyptian law, and since the nationalization of the canal in 1956, the Suez Canal has been a national Egyptian entity. Egypt is the only country with the authority to impose fees and regulate all matters related to the canal, with no exceptions granted to any country. Dr. Mohamed Mehran, an expert in international law, affirmed that international law granted Egypt full sovereignty over the Suez Canal and the right to set transit fees based on the cost of services provided to passing ships. He emphasized that, despite facing significant challenges, Egypt will not succumb to external pressures. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
See - Sada Elbalad
27-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Experts: Trump's Statements over Suez Canal "False"
Taarek Refaat Mohamed Mustafa Abu Shama, director of the Strategic Forum for Thought and Dialogue said that the Suez Canal transit fees are the same for all ships and were increased in 2024 due to economic conditions. He pointed out that US President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding the Suez Canal were intended to pressure Cairo. Abu Shama added during an interview on Al Arabiya TV that relations between Egypt and the United States are deeper than that, and that they have had ongoing relations since the signing of the peace treaties. Abu Shama pointed out that the US president made a mistake in linking the two issues and confused his understanding of the historical relationship between the United States and the Suez Canal, since it has no role in it and does not even have a role in the present situation. Abu Shama said that Egypt may have the right to demand compensation from the United States for the customs duties it imposed on the world, which are no less dangerous than the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. US President Donald Trump wrote on his personal account, Truth Social, that US ships, both military and commercial, should be allowed free passage through the Panama and Suez Canals, which would not exist without the United States. He asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to work on this matter immediately. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal "would not exist without the United States," claiming that America's historic role in establishing these waterways justifies his demands. He announced that he had instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to follow up on the matter "immediately." Trump's statements sparked mixed reactions in Egypt and Panama, with some considering them provocative and an interference in national sovereignty. The statements sparked widespread public resentment in Egypt on social media, with tweeters pointing out that the Suez Canal, which opened in 1869, predates the establishment of the United States itself as a modern state. Egyptian diplomatic sources confirmed that the management of the Suez Canal is a sovereign Egyptian matter, noting that the canal is subject to the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which guarantees freedom of navigation for all countries in exchange for a uniform fee. Egyptian international law expert Ayman Salama commented on US President Donald Trump's statements regarding the transit of American ships, whether military or commercial, through the canal. He described the Suez Canal "free of charge" as "an unacceptable violation of international law and a complete disregard for Egyptian sovereign rights." He emphasized that the Suez Canal represents "a vital artery for global trade and is subject to a well-established Egyptian legal system" based on clear legislation and precise regulations that specify transit fees and limited exemptions. The Egyptian legal expert confirmed to RT that the Suez Canal Authority regulates the traffic and fees of ships under the laws of Egypt and its executive regulations. He added that "these laws do not differentiate between the nationality or nature of ships" and adopt clear criteria for fees based on the ship's tonnage and type. He emphasized that "there is no provision in Egyptian legislation that grants the United States or any other country a special exemption from paying transit fees." The international law professor pointed out that Egyptian laws may include exceptional cases for exemption from fees, "usually related to rescue vessels or vessels belonging to specific international organizations under special agreements or in cases of extreme necessity." However, these exceptions are clearly defined and do not in any way include granting free privileges to a specific country, "regardless of its power or influence." The international expert believes that US President Donald Trump's demand to exempt the United States alone from paying the fees "lacks any legal or logical basis," suggesting that this request is based on "the logic of power and influence, ignoring the principles of equality among states and the rule of international law." He emphasized that the Suez Canal belongs to no one but Egypt and is subject to its laws and regulations, and that all states must respect these laws without discrimination. Salama emphasized that the Suez Canal will remain under full Egyptian sovereignty, and that the passage of ships will continue in accordance with Egyptian law and international maritime rules. He also emphasized that "no illegal statements or demands can detract from this sovereign right or impose unjustified exceptions." Egypt has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the canal for all states in accordance with the 1888 Constantinople Convention, "but this does not mean relinquishing its sovereign right to collect transit fees." read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. 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