U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent call for American vessels to pass freely through the Suez Canal has sparked strong condemnation across Egypt, where leaders and legal experts are warning of serious breaches to international law and sovereignty.
On Saturday, Donald Trump took to his platform Truth Social to argue that American ships—military and commercial—should be allowed toll-free passage through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal. His claim? That these waterways “would not exist” without U.S. intervention. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been tasked to “memorialize this situation.”
The statement triggered a wave of criticism in Egypt, where many see it as not only ignorant of legal norms but also as a throwback to colonial attitudes.
“This is a legally baseless claim,” said Ayman Salama, an international law professor at Cairo University. He pointed to the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which ensures that the Suez Canal remains open to ships of all nations on a non-discriminatory basis—while still preserving Egypt’s sovereign control.
By suggesting free U.S. access, Trump is effectively challenging Egypt’s authority over its own territory. That’s not just a diplomatic misstep, it’s a possible violation of the international principle of non-interference, Salama warned. And in a region already on edge due to ongoing Red Sea disruptions, such rhetoric only adds fuel to the fire.
Samaa Soliman, a high-ranking member of the Egyptian Senate, didn’t hold back either. She described Trump’s proposal as “unjustified interference” and rejected the notion outright. “Only Egypt is responsible for securing and protecting the Suez Canal,” she said, emphasizing that transit fees are a key revenue stream for Egypt’s struggling economy.
And the numbers back her up. According to the Suez Canal Authority, revenues dropped by over 60% in 2024 due to ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, costing Egypt nearly $7 billion. Against this economic backdrop, the idea of giving one country free passage—particularly one with the world’s largest naval presence—is not just politically sensitive; it’s financially unthinkable.
Even Egypt’s political parties have closed ranks in response. Sayed Abdel Aal, head of the socialist Tagammu Party, described Trump’s remarks as “economic colonialism in a new garment.” In his view, the idea that the U.S. can dictate terms over an international waterway reflects a “hateful colonial mentality.”
That sentiment is gaining ground on social media, where Egyptians have been pushing back hard against the implication that the U.S. deserves credit for the canal. One widely shared post read, “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.”
Historically, the Suez Canal has always been more than a shipping lane to Egyptians. Since its nationalization by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1956, it has symbolized sovereignty, sacrifice, and resilience. Trump’s latest comments are seen by many not just as a diplomatic gaffe, but as a direct insult to that legacy.
Source:China Daily
