Trump informed the Egyptian president that the U.S. hoped to use the Suez Canal for free.
April 30, 2025
04:00
Ships on the Suez Canal. Photo.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal citing sources, U.S. President Donald Trump told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a phone conversation in early April that he hoped American ships could pass through the Suez Canal for free.
The newspaper pointed out that attacks by the Houthi armed group had reduced the number of ships passing through the Suez Canal, which had led to a decline in Egypt's revenue. The Egyptian government also acknowledged this.
The sources of The Wall Street Journal said that Trump told Sisi that he intended to seek Cairo's support in the fight against the Houthis, including military assistance, intelligence exchange, or financial support. However, according to the sources, Sisi refused this request, saying that a ceasefire in Gaza was "the best way to stop the Houthis."
In November 2023, the Houthis announced that they would attack ships related to Israel and its allies in the Red Sea, which is connected to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. In the past year and a half, dozens of military and commercial ships have been attacked.
Due to the attacks by the Houthis, the number of ships passing through the Suez Canal has been halved, and the canal's revenue has plummeted. Some large multinational companies have suspended transportation through the canal, especially the Danish company Maersk and the British company BP. As reported by Bloomberg, ships have had to revert to using routes from the 18th century (the Suez Canal opened for navigation in the latter half of the 19th century). Against the backdrop of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, operations at the canal are being restored.
James Hewitt, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, told The Wall Street Journal that freedom of navigation for the U.S. in the Red Sea would "benefit partner countries worldwide, including Egypt."
"The timing of favorable military actions should be shared, and free passage of U.S. ships through the Suez Canal is one way to share this opportunity," he said.
The Wall Street Journal noted that Trump consistently demanded compensation from Egypt for the costs incurred by the U.S. in protecting the route to the Suez Canal, both publicly and privately. The report also mentioned that Trump called on Truth Social to allow military and commercial ships to pass through the canal for free.
The report also wrote that the U.S. government had warned Egyptian officials visiting Washington this spring that the U.S. might significantly reduce its economic support for Cairo.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499414663436714550/
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