Why does Trump want the Panama Canal? Here’s what you should know

President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday refused to rule that out Use military force to restore the Panama CanalWhich the United States returned to that country’s control decades ago.

Last month, Mr. Trump falsely accused Panama of allowing Chinese soldiers to take over the vital shipping route, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and increase shipping on American ships.

Panama has also been claimed Ships American ships “Exorbitant prices,” and he warned that if they were not reduced after he took office next month, he would demand that the United States be given control of the canal “fully, quickly and without question.”

While it’s unclear what prompted Trump’s recent obsession with the Panama Canal, some Republicans have long objected to a decades-old treaty that turned the shipping lane over to Panamanian control. When Ronald Reagan ran for president, he said that the people of the United States were “the rightful owners of the canal,” and urged the crowd to their feet with this phrase: “We bought it; we bought it; we bought it; we bought it; we bought it; we bought it.” We paid for it; We built it.

After a failed attempt by the French to build the canal, it was eventually built by the United States between 1904 and 1914. The US government ran the canal for several decades.

The United States also played a role in the creation of the nation of Panama. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Isthmus of Panama was part of Colombia. When Colombia rejected the proposed Canal Treaty, the United States government encouraged the rebellion. Colombia’s northern provinces eagerly seceded, forming the Republic of Panama. The US Navy then prevented Colombian forces from suppressing the rebellion.

US control of the canal created significant tensions with Panama. In 1964, anti-American Riots broke out In the US-controlled canal zone.

The riots led to the renegotiation of the Panama Canal Treaties. In 1977, US President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Efrain Torrijos signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. The agreements guaranteed the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal. After a period of joint custody, treaties called for the United States to relinquish control of the canal by 2000.

Panama assumed full control of the canal in 1999, and has since operated the canal through the Panama Canal Authority.

Mr. Carter, who died on December 29, always Treaties were considered an achievement of signings, and they were featured prominently in his obituary.

James Fallows, who was Carter’s speechwriter, said: “By a strange coincidence of timing, we now have a president who dreams of restoring the canal at a time when the world recognizes the transfer of the canal as an important part of the late president’s legacy.” At that time he accompanied the president on a 1978 trip to Panama.

How did Panama respond?

In a statement of rebuke to Mr. Trump last month, Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino wrote: “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belongs to Panama.”

Mr. Molyneux also said that American ships are not being overloaded. He insisted that the prices being charged on ships and sea vessels “are not on a whim.”

Panamanian officials said all countries are subject to the same fees, although they will vary depending on the size of the ship. These principles are developed in public meetings by the Panama Canal Authority, and take into account market conditions, international competition and operation and maintenance costs, Mr. Molyneux said.

But prices have risen recently. This is because starting in 2023, Panama has experienced a severe drought, driven by drought A combination of El Niño and climate changewhich Mr. Trump called a hoax. With water levels in Lake Gatun, the canal’s main hydrological reserve, falling to historically low levels, authorities have reduced shipping through the canal to conserve fresh water in the lake.

A Trump spokeswoman said that because the United States is the largest user of the canal, the increase in fees would hurt its ships the most.

Chinese soldiers, as Mr. Trump claimed, are not “managing” the Panama Canal.

“There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for God’s sake,” Mr. Molyneux said. In Thursday’s speech. “The world is free to visit the channel.”

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings operates two ports at the entrances to the canal. Some experts said this raises real competitive and security concerns for the United States.

Ryan C noted. Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, noted that CK Hutchison likely has data on all ships coming through the Panama Canal. China uses shipping and maritime operations for Collect foreign intelligence And carry out espionage.

“China exercises, or can exercise, a certain element of control even in the absence of some military conflicts,” Mr. Berg said. “I think there is cause for concern.”

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry He said Tuesday And that China “will, as always, respect Panama’s sovereignty” over the Panama Canal.

China is the second largest user of the Panama Canal after the United States. In 2017, Panama Cutting diplomatic relations with Taiwan It recognized the island as part of China, a major win for Beijing.

Can the United States re-establish its control?

Not easily.

Mr. Molyneux has made it clear that the Panama Canal is not for sale. He pointed out that the treaties stipulated the permanent neutrality of the canal and “guaranteed its open and safe operation for all countries.” The Senate ratified the Panama Canal Treaties in 1978.

Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former chief of staff, suggested that the provocations were just part of a negotiating tactic to lower interest rates.

“You know, I don’t envision American troops going in to retake the canal, but you have to think that there’s someone scratching their head wondering: Is Donald Trump crazy enough to do something like this?” Mr. Mulvaney said Tuesday on NewsNation’s “The Hill.”

Mr. Berg said the neutrality agreement made it unlikely that Panama would be able to grant special rates to the United States. He noted that Mr Molyneux is “incredibly pro-American” and will likely be keen to help the incoming Trump administration deal with issues such as illegal immigration.

“President Molyneux will be a great ally of the United States,” Mr. Berg said. “We should not want this to turn into some kind of political fight because we will need President Molyneux on a number of other issues.”

But there is, as Mr. Trump threatened, a military option. Mr. Trump as president could order the invasion of Panama. Under the provisions of its constitution, Panama does not have an army. But experts dismissed Trump’s threat on Tuesday as empty intimidation.

“If the United States wanted to violate international law and act like Vladimir Putin, the United States could invade Panama and take back the canal,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Wilson Center in Washington. “No one will see this as a legitimate business, and it will not only cause serious damage to their image, but also cause instability to the channel.”