This idea is haunting China to Donald Trump who is worried about Beijing’s growing influence in the US Just below the US is the Panama Canal – a bridge connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through strategically located Panama, which connects North and South America. Connects.
US President-elect Trump, who is always ready to threaten others with tariffs, is also troubled by the charging of “exorbitant tariffs” for the use of the Panama Canal. The combination of these two factors is so troubling that Mr Trump has openly declared that the US might consider taking control of the Panama Canal.
Writing about his concerns on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump warned that he would never let the Panama Canal fall into the “wrong hands.” Reminding the Panamanian government that the canal was originally built by the United States more than a century ago, Mr Trump wrote, “It is for Panama alone to manage, not China or anyone else”.
He also reposted one of his videos with the caption, “We will never let this fall into the wrong hands!”
A Brief History of the Panama Canal
Until the early 20th century, the shortest route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean was either sailing around Cape Horn in Chile at the southern tip of South America or sailing through the Strait of Magellan in South America. End of South America – in Chile. Both meant sailing around the entire continent of South America and almost reaching Antarctica before turning back into the Pacific or Atlantic – this was neither economical, nor efficient.
After much consideration, research, and surveying, a narrow, but feasible route crossing the Isthmus of Panama was discovered. However, to achieve this there was a difficult challenge to overcome. The waterway was at varying levels and where there were sudden changes in topography there was no way for a ship to embark or disembark. Converting the waterway across the isthmus to a man-made canal would require an engineering miracle—one that was both unimaginable and unheard of in the early 20th century.
At the time the United States was the only country that had the technical knowledge and expertise to be able to do this. And so, in May 1904 – less than a year after Panama declared independence from Colombia in November 1903, the US 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 US. After 10 years of around-the-clock engineering work, the Panama Canal became a reality in August 1914, when the SS Ancon became the first ship to pass through the canal.
The US continued to control and operate the canal and its surrounding areas until a new agreement called the Torrijos-Carter Treaty was signed between Panama and the US in 1977. In this, there was a provision to hand over the canal to Panama after a joint campaign for almost two decades. , The Government of Panama took full control of the canal in 1999.
Donald Trump vs. Panamanian President Jose Mulino
Apart from warning that the US will never allow the operation of the Panama Canal to be handed over to another country amid China’s growing influence and strong stance globally, Donald Trump also expressed his concern over the “extremely high” tariffs being imposed by Panama. Expressed displeasure.
Writing on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said, “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially given the extraordinary generosity given to Panama by the United States.”
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but only as a symbol of our cooperation and with Panama. If both the ethical and legal principles of this generous gesture of giving are not followed, we Mr Trump said he would demand the Panama Canal be returned to us “completely and without questions.”
Hours after Donald Trump’s warning, the Panamanian government responded, though without naming the US president-elect. Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino on social media platform
President Mulino said, “China, nor the European Union, nor the United States or any other power has any direct or indirect control over the canal.” He said, “As a Panamanian, I reject any expression that misrepresents this reality.” His video message was in Spanish language.
Mensaje del Presidente Jose Raul Mulino ?? pic.twitter.com/DMXU8qAuNT
– Jose Raul Mulino (@JoseRaulMulino) 22 December 2024
President Mulino also said he looked forward to a “good and respectful relationship” with the incoming Trump administration. Donald Trump responded to the Panamanian president’s post shortly after, however, when he wrote “We’ll see about it!” So everyone was forced to guess.
Meanwhile, amid the power struggle between the US and China in terms of their military and naval power, it is important to note that China now has the largest navy in the world, overtaking the United States. China has a declared fleet size of over 370 ships and submarines. This is much larger than the size of the US Navy’s fleet, which is 290 ships and submarines.
The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most important waterways for trade and commerce, and freedom of navigation at sea has been one of the democratic world’s highest priorities, and a cornerstone of its policy.
