President Donald Trump used his second inaugural address to repeat criticisms of Panama and its operation of the Panama Canal and to threaten to take back control of the waterway through which much U.S. trade passes.
“We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made and Panama’s promise to us has been broken,” Trump said from the Capitol Rotunda. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.”
It remains unclear whether Trump will follow his rhetoric with any executive action to put teeth into his threat to take back control of the canal, and if any potential actions would be legally focused or use things like increased foreign aid and security assistance to try to reduce Beijing’s influence in Panama City.
