On Saturday (April 26), he made this request to the canal authorities and assigned Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lead negotiations for rapid progress.
Trump’s new demand has already sparked fresh debates in global trade and diplomatic circles. Since beginning his second term, Trump had been hinting at seeking greater control over the Panama Canal. In a recent post on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” he clearly stated that American ships should be allowed to navigate the Panama and Suez Canals without tolls, claiming that these crucial routes would not exist without U.S. involvement.
In response, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino said that the Panama Canal Authority — an autonomous body — controls toll fees and trade regulations. However, he did not mention Trump directly in his remarks.
Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama City and announced that the U.S. was seeking an agreement to allow its warships free passage through the canal.
Meanwhile, the situation at the Suez Canal remains complicated. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking ships passing through this key waterway connecting Europe and Asia. Following Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Houthi attacks escalated in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, forcing many vessels to reroute via South Africa, significantly increasing travel time and costs.
Egypt reported that due to these attacks, revenue from the Suez Canal dropped by 60% last year, resulting in a loss of at least $7 billion.
Since January, U.S. military forces have launched operations to counter the Houthi threat. After Trump took office again, these operations intensified. He declared that U.S. military actions would continue until the Houthi threat is fully eliminated.