Barran Press - Anadolu Agency
The Suez Canal Authority announced on November 2, 2024, its commitment to upholding international agreements that ensure freedom of maritime navigation for all transiting vessels, whether commercial or military, without discrimination based on nationality.
The statement came in response to questions circulating on social media regarding the transit of warships of various nationalities through the canal, although specific nationalities were not disclosed.
The Suez Canal Authority emphasized that its adherence to these international agreements aligns with the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which serves as a foundational guarantee for maintaining the canal's status as one of the world's most critical maritime passages.
According to the authority, the convention stipulates that the Suez Canal must remain open at all times, during both wartime and peacetime, to all commercial and military ships without regard to their nationality.
The statement underscored that the passage of military vessels through the canal is subject to specific procedures. However, no details were provided regarding the national origins of the vessels in question, which follows unverified reports on social media about the passage of warships.
In separate statements on Thursday and Friday, the Egyptian military denied any cooperation with Israel, while the Ministry of Transport clarified that the vessel in question was carrying equipment for Egypt's Ministry of Military Production, without specifying its nationality.
The Egyptian military firmly rejected any claims of assisting Israeli armed forces in their military operations, emphasizing that there is "no form of cooperation with Israel."
The Suez Canal is one of the world's most important waterways, providing the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia and serving as a major source of foreign currency for Egypt. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi revealed in a televised address in late September that Egypt has lost approximately $6 billion in Suez Canal revenues due to geopolitical tensions in the region.