Washington DC:
Donald Trump is haunted by China’s growing influence just below the Panama Canal, the tail end of the United States. The canal is a bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, passing through Panama, a strategically located link between North and South America.
President-elect Trump, always ready to threaten other countries with tariffs, is also upset that Panama is imposing “excessive tariffs” on its use of the Panama Canal. The combination of these two factors has left Trump so unsettled that he has publicly declared that the United States may consider taking control of the Panama Canal.
Donald Trump posted his concerns on his social media platform Truth Social, warning that he would never let the Panama Canal fall into “the wrong hands.” President Trump reminded the Panamanian government that the canal was originally built by the United States more than a century ago, writing, “This canal will be managed exclusively by Panama, not China or anyone else.” .
He also reposted a video of himself titled, “We will never fall into the wrong hands!”
A brief history of the Panama Canal
Until the early 20th century, the quickest way to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic, or vice versa, was to go around Cape Horn in Chile, at the southern tip of South America, or through the Strait of Magellan, also to the south. Chile, the end of South America. Both involve sailing across the entire South American continent, almost reaching Antarctica, and then returning to the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean. This was neither economical nor efficient.
After much thought, investigation, and research, a narrow but possible path across the Isthmus of Panama was discovered. However, in order to achieve this, there were formidable challenges that had to be overcome. The waterways had varying elevations, making it impossible for ships to climb up or down in areas where the topography changed rapidly. Converting the Isthmus waterway into a man-made canal would require an unprecedented engineering feat unimaginable at the beginning of the 20th century.
At the time, only the United States had the technical knowledge and expertise to make it happen. Then, in May 1904, less than a year after Panama declared independence from Colombia in November 1903, the United States began construction of the Panama Canal. A treaty was signed between the United States and Panama under which the canal would be constructed and managed by the United States. After ten years of round-the-clock engineering work, the Panama Canal became a reality in August 1914, with the SS Ancon becoming the first ship to transit the canal.
The United States continued to manage and operate the canal and surrounding area until a new agreement between Panama and the United States, known as the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, was signed in 1977. This provided for the handing over of the canal to Panama after almost 20 years of joint operation. . The Panamanian government took full control of the canal in 1999.
Donald Trump vs Panamanian President Jose Mulino
As China’s influence grows globally and asserts its assertiveness, Donald Trump has warned that the United States will never allow operations of the Panama Canal to be transferred to another country. expressed displeasure over the “very high” tariffs imposed.
“The fees Panama charges are ludicrous, especially given the extraordinary generosity the United States has given Panama,” Trump wrote in Truth Social.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but simply as a token of our cooperation with Panama. If the moral and legal principles of this generous act of donation are not followed, If there is, we will demand the construction of the Panama Canal, which should be returned to us in full and without question,” Trump added.
Hours after Donald Trump’s warning, the Panamanian government responded without naming the U.S. president-elect. Panamanian President José Raul Mulino posted a video on social media platform
“This canal is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by China, the European Union, the United States or any other power,” President Mulino said, adding, “As a Panamanian, I stand by any statement that misrepresents this reality. I refuse,” he added. His video message was in Spanish.
🇵🇦President Jose Raul Mulino 🇵🇦 pic.twitter.com/DMXU8qAuNT
— Jose Raul Mulino (@JoseRaulMulino) December 22, 2024
President Murino also said he hopes to build a “good and respectful relationship” with the incoming Trump administration. Donald Trump reacted immediately after the Panamanian president’s post, but left everyone guessing when he wrote, “We’ll see about that!”
Meanwhile, amidst the power struggle between the United States and China in terms of military and naval power, it is important to note that China has now overtaken the United States and possesses the largest navy in the world. China has a declared fleet size of over 370 ships and submarines. This is significantly larger than the U.S. Navy’s fleet of 290 ships and submarines.
The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most important waterways for trade and commerce, and freedom of maritime navigation is one of the democratic world’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its policies.
