US President Donald Trump has called for American military and commercial vessels to be granted free passage through the Panama and Suez canals. He argues that both strategic waterways would not exist without US involvement and has instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the issue immediately. Trump's comments come as attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have forced vessels to divert around Africa's southern tip, causing major delays and financial losses. Egypt has reported a 60 percent drop in Suez Canal revenue, resulting in a loss of $7 billion.