Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Retaking the Panama Canal
Over the recent weekend, Donald Trump, the President-elect, made bold statements suggesting that the United States might take back control of the Panama Canal unless Panama reduces the charges imposed on American vessels navigating the critical link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Trump first voiced his ultimatum through a pair of posts on Truth Social on Saturday evening. He revisited the issue during his speech at the Turning Point’s annual AmericaFest event in Arizona on Sunday, where he accused Panama of letting China dominate the canal management. Trump emphasized, “We will never, ever let it fall into the wrong hands.”
Accusations of Imperialism
In a striking critique, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) responded on Bluesky, condemning Trump’s statements as a call for imperialism. He highlighted Trump’s disregard for Panama’s sovereignty by advocating for the U.S. to seize the canal. Torres expressed concern over Trump’s apparent lack of recognition of Panama as an independent nation.
The historical context dates back to 1904 when the U.S. forged an agreement with Panama to construct the canal and control the adjacent land. This arrangement was altered when former President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panama in the late 1970s, agreeing to transfer the canal back to Panama by 1999.
In his initial social media post, Trump argued that the canal was meant to be managed by Panama alone, not China or any other nation. He also protested against Panama charging the U.S. Navy and American corporations high fees for passage. Trump reiterated these sentiments in a subsequent post and during his AmericaFest speech.
An audience member’s shout of “Take it back!” during the speech prompted Trump to respond affirmatively, “That’s a good idea.”
International and Domestic Responses
Reporting on Trump’s remarks, Reuters clarified that China does not control any part of the canal, though a Hong Kong-based company, CK Hutchison Holdings, does manage two ports at its entrance. The statement by Trump was described as an unusual instance of a U.S. leader suggesting forceful reclamation of territory from a sovereign state.
Panamanian opposition deputy Grace Hernandez expressed on social media that it is the government’s responsibility to defend Panama’s autonomy. She emphasized the need for firm diplomacy in response to such regrettable statements.
Current Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, known for his pro-U.S. stance as reported by The Associated Press, faces challenges not just from political rhetoric but also from environmental issues impacting the canal. AP noted that recent droughts in Central America severely affected the canal’s operation, leading to reduced ship crossings and increased fees. Conditions have started normalizing with the weather, but fee hikes are expected to continue into the next year.
Trump’s controversial remarks coincided with the 35th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Panama, which sought to depose President Manuel Noriega and reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement. Panamanian architect Luis Alfaro lamented on social media, calling Trump a tyrant and emphasizing that the canal resides on Panamanian soil and should remain under Panama’s control.
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