President-elect Donald Trump has proposed that the US should consider taking control of the Panama Canal, referring to it as a 'vital national asset.' He emphasized the importance of the canal to US interests and expressed concerns about Panama potentially violating the principles that allowed them to operate the canal.
During a recent event in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump reiterated his stance, highlighting what he perceives as unfair practices by Panama in charging 'exorbitant prices and rates of passage' to US ships and military personnel. He argued that the US has a vested interest in ensuring fair operations of the canal.
The history of the Panama Canal dates back to 1903 when the US was granted sovereign control to construct the canal, which was completed in 1914. In 1977, a treaty was signed to transfer control of the canal back to Panama, with the US retaining the right to defend its neutrality under the Neutrality Treaty ratified in 1978.
Despite Trump's proposal, experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the US reclaiming control of the canal, particularly in light of Chinese business interests in the region.
While the debate over the Panama Canal's ownership continues, it remains a critical waterway for global trade and a strategic asset for both Panama and the US.
