Panama Reacts to Trump's Push for Canal Recontrol

By Ken Miller, Senior Transport Journalist

President Donald Trump’s recent claim that he wishes to reclaim U.S. control of the Panama Canal has stirred nationalist sentiments and concern within Panama, a nation well-acquainted with previous U.S. military interventions.

In a speech on Monday, Trump stated, “American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form, including the United States Navy. Above all, China is operating the Panama Canal.”

Many Panamanians interpreted Trump’s remarks as an attempt to pressure the country into making concessions, particularly regarding migration control through the Darien Gap. His comments also evoked memories of the 1989 U.S. invasion, creating unease among the populace.

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, issued a strong rebuttal, emphasizing that the canal rightfully belongs to Panama and will remain under its sovereignty. His statement was forwarded to the U.N. Security Council, where he categorically rejected Trump’s claims: “There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration.”

At a rally in Phoenix last December, Trump suggested he might seek to reclaim the canal, labeling the transfer to Panama as “foolish.” He expressed concerns about overcharging faced by shippers and highlighted China’s increasing influence over this key trade route connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Earlier this month, Trump did not dismiss the possibility of using military force to regain control of the canal. The United States constructed the canal in the early 1900s to facilitate the movement of commercial and military vessels between its coasts, officially transferring control to Panama on December 31, 1999, following a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

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