President-elect Donald Trump has strongly criticized Panama for imposing excessive tolls on the use of the Panama Canal, warning that the United States may demand the canal’s return if corrective measures are not taken.
In a statement shared on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump asserted that the canal’s control must not fall into "the wrong hands" and expressed concerns about potential Chinese influence in the region.
“Panama’s decision to impose exorbitant tolls is an insult, particularly given that the canal exists today due to American generosity. Exploiting this historic gift for undue financial gain is both unethical and unacceptable. The canal was transferred to Panama as a symbol of cooperation between our nations, not for opportunistic exploitation. If the moral and legal principles behind this great partnership are not respected, we will demand the complete return of the Panama Canal,” Trump stated.
As of now, the Panamanian Embassy in Washington has not issued a response to these remarks.
The Panama Canal, a critical trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitates a substantial portion of global commerce. It significantly reduces transit time between the two oceans to 8-10 hours. Completed in 1904, the 82-kilometer canal remained under U.S. control until its handover to Panama in 1999, as stipulated in the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaty. Notably, 40% of trade between East Asia and the United States relies on this vital maritime passage.
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