President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to regain the US ownership of the Panama Canal, which had previously been dominated by the United States until the treaty transferred to Panama in 1999. Foreign policy norms for decades, if translated into international sovereignty, and translated into action. The canal promotes hundreds of millions of dollars every year. It is a central point of international commercial, indispensable for US supply chains, and indispensable for Panama as a regional trade hub. However, the expanding commercial connection between Panama and the region has promoted concerns about Beijing’s higher role in global transportation and port management.
Why is the canal important?
The 51 -mile canal is an important global marine passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The canal greatly reduces both shipments and costs as ships can bypass long trips around the southernmost tip of South America. More than 13,000 ships represented between 5-6 % of the world trade pass the canal every year.
The canal is essential for both the United States and the Panama economy. The United States is still the largest user of the canal, and about 40 % of the US container transportation passes every year. On the other hand, the income from the canal accounted for about 4 % of Panama’s gross domestic product in 2024. Other major users in the waterways include Chile, China, Japan and Korea.
In 2023, the canal authorities raised fees to pass through the ship, limit the number that could pass every day after the water level decreased to record the water level in the drought. After that, the level has risen, but experts have increased the need for new investment in the canal water management system as extreme weather phenomena and other climate turmoil challenge global supply chains. I say you are.
Why do Trump want to regain the canal control?
Trump accused Panama claiming an impressive fee to pass through the canal. He said he was “stupid” by President Jimmy Carter as part of the Trihos Carter Treaty signed with Panama in 1977. Trump also claimed that China is secretly operating. The canal and he said that it would not exclude the use of US military troops to capture control.
“Trump seems to have shown a model from Panama, with the goal of letting leaders in other regions think twice before taking bold measures to deepen their relationship with Beijing,” Latin America. Will Freeman, a research CFR fellow, states.
Does China manage the canal?
There is no evidence that the Chinese government manages the canal. However, Hong Kong -based Konglomarit, one of the world’s leading container terminal operators, has managed two ports on the Pacific coast of Barboa and Atlantic Coast since 1997. Masu. Some experts say. This causes concerns about China’s potential impact on the port, as Beijing’s National Security Law is currently extending to Hong Kong.
Marco Rubio, a former member of the Republican Republican Senator, who is currently the Secretary of State of Trump, criticizes China’s influence on the canal. In a hearing hearing of the Senate, he stated that Beijing had the ability to turn the canal into a chalk point at the moment of a dispute, through the expansion of Chinese -owned companies. US national security. “
For the past 20 years, China has established a close economic relationship with many Latin American countries. Beijing is currently a top trading partner in South America, a major source of foreign direct investment, energy and infrastructure, including Panama, a member of the Belt and Road Initiative. China is also involved in some of the Panama infrastructure projects, including the construction of the cruise ship terminal and convention center.
What is the history of the United States with the canal?
The United States gained the right to build artificial waterways in 1903 after supporting Panama’s bidding from Colombia, and the canal was officially opened in 1914. Until 1977, the United States owned and operated the canal until 1977, when Carter negotiated the Canal Treaty. In the growing demands of Panama City’s sovereign and Carter’s desire for a better relationship between Latin America. The Torrijos-CARTER Convention established a joint authorities between the United States and Panamania in the canal until 1999. At that time, the United States has abandoned the complete control of the canal to the Panama Canal Bureau, Panama’s autonomous government agency.
However, the relocation of ownership was discussed. Some members of the Diet stubbornly opposed the abandonment of US rule, and said that the decision was reduced the US influence. In a 1976 campaign to become a Republican presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan argued that the United States was a “legitimate owner.” Furthermore, many policy imgers need to maintain management to protect the US economic interests overseas, as the canal is indispensable to ensure the world’s uninterrupted access to the world transport route. I thought there was.
Under the treaty, the United States has the right to act if there is a military threat to the neutrality of the canal, which does not make Washington unilaterally rehabilitated. And experts say that doing so violates international law. Many experts think that the treaty has said a new era of US -related USA.
How did Panama respond?
Panama President Jose Raul Murino promptly blends Trump’s comments and claims that “there is no possibility to open all kinds of conversations (transfer the ownership of the canal),” and the canal’s operation. He argued that he had denied China’s involvement. He added that the shipping cost would be calculated in the same way for all ships crossing the canal. Mulino, who pledged a greater cooperation with the United States, repeated his position after again stating that Trump regain control of the waterway in his inauguration speech.
(Source: Diplomacy Council)