The Wall Street Journal: Trump asked his Egyptian counterpart for US ships to pass through the Suez Canal free of charge!
The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump announced in a call with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el Sisi, that he seeks to guarantee free passage for US ships through the Suez Canal.
Sources told the WSJ that Trump expressed his desire to obtain support from Cairo for operations against the Houthis in Yemen, specifically military support, intelligence sharing, or funding.
However, the Egyptian president rejected Trump’s demands, stating that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was the best way to stop the Houthis.
US National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told the Wall Street Journal that free passage for US ships in the Red Sea will benefit partners around the world, including Egypt.
He added that the burdens of the military operation against the Houthis must be shared, considering that free passage for American ships through the Suez Canal is one way to share these burdens.
According to Wall Street Journal, the United States warned Egyptian officials during their visit to Washington this spring that the Trump administration might reduce financial support to Egypt.
On April 27, US President Donald Trump called for free passage for US ships through the Panama and Suez Canals.
