US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, called for American military and commercial ships to be allowed to pass through the Panama and Suez Canals free of charge.
“I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialise, this situation,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
The Panama Canal, which crosses the narrowest part of the isthmus between North and South America, enables ships to move more swiftly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It handles roughly 40% of US container traffic annually.
Although the US constructed the canal in the early 20th century, control was handed over to Panama in 1999. Trump has frequently voiced his desire to “take back” the canal. Prior to his presidency, he stated that he would not rule out using economic or military force to regain control of the strategically significant waterway.
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