FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE -U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent demand for free passage of American ships through the Suez Canal has drawn sharp criticism in Egypt, with legal experts, political leaders, and citizens denouncing the remarks as a threat to international order and a violation of sovereignty.
Trump, in a Truth Social post on Saturday, claimed the canal “would not exist” without the United States and directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the matter.
Egyptian officials and legal scholars have rejected the assertion, citing the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which governs international access to the canal.
Ayman Salama, professor of international law at Cairo University, called Trump’s proposal “legally baseless” and warned of its potential to disrupt global trade.
Samaa Soliman, deputy chairman of Egypt’s Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized that canal revenues are a sovereign resource vital to Egypt’s economy.
The controversy has reignited national pride in the canal, which was built in 1869 and nationalized in 1956 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Egyptians have taken to social media to defend the canal’s legacy, rejecting Trump’s claims as “economic colonialism.” The Suez Canal Authority reported a significant drop in revenue amid regional tensions, further complicating the issue.
Egyptian political parties and citizens have united in condemning Trump’s remarks, underscoring the canal’s importance as a symbol of sovereignty and global trade.