(DailyEmailNews.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has made a bold demand to Panama: cooperate with his government or surrender control of the Panama Canal to the United States.
At a recent Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest rally in Arizona, Trump did not mince words about the current state of affairs regarding the Panama Canal.
“Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous,” Trump stated, highlighting the economic burden on American interests.
Trump’s concerns extend beyond mere financial considerations. He expressed alarm about China’s growing influence around the canal, which is crucial for U.S. businesses.
The Panama Canal is a strategic maritime passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
It makes around 5% of global maritime traffic possible and is vital for trade between Asia and the U.S. East Coast.
The president-elect’s stance is clear: Panama should manage the canal, not China or any other country.
“It was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands!” Trump declared.
Trump’s bold proposal has ruffled feathers in Panama. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino quickly rejected Trump’s suggestion, emphasizing Panama’s sovereignty over the canal.
However, Mulino’s pushback seems to have only strengthened Trump’s resolve.
Trump stated that if Panama could not ensure the channel’s “secure, efficient and reliable operation,” “then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.”
The president-elect’s stance on the Panama Canal is part of a broader vision for America’s future.
At the rally, Trump promised a booming economy, secure borders and resolution of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
He declared a resurgent America: “I can proudly proclaim that the Golden Age of America is upon us. There’s a spirit that we have now that we didn’t have just a short while ago.”
Trump’s focus on the Panama Canal reflects his broader criticism of U.S. foreign policy decisions made by previous administrations.
He openly criticized the decision to give up control of the canal in 1999, viewing it as a strategic mistake that has left America vulnerable to exploitation and unfair treatment.
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