Trump's Suez Canal demand riles Egypt

Donald Trump privately urged Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to grant American military and commercial vessels free passage through the Suez Canal, according to unnamed Egyptian diplomat who spoke with the Arabic language edition of the New Arab. In an April 1 phone call, Mr Trump framed the request as a contribution to American efforts to secure Red Sea shipping lanes against Houthi attacks.

Mr Sisi reportedly sidestepped the proposal, reiterating Egypt’s focus on diplomatic solutions. Mr Trump later made the demand public, claiming on his social media platform that America had been instrumental in the canal’s existence, and tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pursue the issue.

The remarks triggered sharp criticism in Egypt, where officials denounced them as an affront to national sovereignty. Suez Canal revenues have fallen by over 60% amid regional instability, but Cairo shows little appetite for concessions to Washington.