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.
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."
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