US President Donald Trump announced on Monday his intention to take back control of the Panama Canal,
During his inauguration speech, Trump claimed China had mismanaged the canal. “We’re taking it back,” Trump declared, accusing China of unfairly benefiting from the vital trade route and asserting that the US never ceded the canal to Beijing.
Trump also criticized alleged overcharging practices, stating, “Even our Navy ships are being overcharged to use the canal.” The remarks came during his first speech after taking office.
The Panama Canal is located in Panama, a country in Central America. It stretches across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean. Specifically, it runs from the city of Colón on the Atlantic side to the city of Panama City on the Pacific side.
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino back in December responded to Donald trumps election campaign statements , asserting that the canal’s sovereignty is non-negotiable and belongs to Panama. Mulino emphasized that there was no Chinese influence over the canal’s operations. But now Trump is the most powerful leader in the world and saying no may not be an option for Panama.
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