President Donald Trump doubled down on his earlier remarks about the United States retaking the Panama Canal. In a statement made following a series of executive orders, Trump took aim at Panama, accusing the nation of violating the agreement between the two countries. His comments have reignited a debate about the U.S. role in the iconic waterway, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 after nearly a century of U.S. control.
During a briefing, Trump discussed the upcoming trip of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Panama, calling attention to the strategic significance of the Panama Canal, which the U.S. built over 100 years ago. “We built the Panama Canal 110 years ago. Think of it. The most expensive development we ever did, and really one of the wonders of the world,” Trump said. He also emphasized that the U.S. had made significant contributions to the construction of the canal, calling it “one of the great wonders of the world.”
Trump’s rhetoric on the Panama Canal is a continuation of his December comments, where he expressed frustration over what he described as “exorbitant” transit fees charged by Panama. According to Trump, the U.S. had been treated unfairly and had received poor treatment from the Panamanian government. The crux of his argument centers around a belief that Panama has not upheld the original terms of the agreement made with the U.S. regarding the canal’s ownership and use.
Trump also added that Panama had been “ripping down” signs written in Chinese that were installed in the canal zone. “About 70 percent of the signs were up and they were written in Chinese,” Trump claimed. “That’s not the deal. We didn’t give it to China; we gave it to Panama.” His reference to Chinese influence in Panama has been a recurring theme for the former president, who has long criticized Beijing’s growing footprint in the region.
Following these remarks, Trump insisted that the U.S. would be taking back control of the canal, a sentiment that he reinforced by stating that Panama had “violated the agreement.” “We’re going to take it back,” Trump declared, adding that Panama had already made offers to resolve the issue, but he believed it was now “appropriate” for the U.S. to regain control of the waterway.
Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, insisted that the canal’s status had already been settled, asserting that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama, and will continue to do so.”
In addition to the official statements from Panama’s government, the Panamanian Foreign Ministry took further action by addressing the United Nations. In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Panama voiced concerns about Trump’s intentions, pointing to the U.S. president’s remarks as a potential violation of international law. Specifically, Panama cited Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, which forbids member states from using force or threatening the territorial integrity of any country.
Trump’s comments were made in the context of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to Panama. Rubio is expected to address various concerns with Panamanian leaders, including the issue of Chinese influence in the region and Panama’s treatment of U.S. interests. Rubio has already echoed Trump’s concerns about Chinese involvement in the canal area, stating that the U.S. should be vigilant about any foreign powers establishing a significant presence near such a critical infrastructure point.
READ NEXT: Trump Threatens To Reclaim Panama Canal
