Mon Dec 23 12:39:38 UTC 2024: ## Trump Threatens to Reclaim Panama Canal, Sparking International Dispute

**Panama City, Panama –** Former US President Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm by threatening to reclaim the Panama Canal from Panama, claiming the country charges excessive tolls and raising concerns about Chinese influence. In a speech to supporters in Arizona and subsequent posts on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the US was “being ripped off” and demanded the canal’s return “in full, quickly, and without question.”

Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino swiftly rejected Trump’s claims, stating unequivocally that “Every square meter of the Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama.” He dismissed Trump’s accusations of Chinese control and defended the canal’s toll structure as based on operational costs and market dynamics. The exchange escalated into a war of words, with Trump responding, “We’ll see about that!”

Trump’s comments, which echo his previous attempts to purchase Greenland, have been widely criticized as legally dubious and a display of his confrontational diplomatic style. Legal experts question the feasibility of such a move, given the established international treaties that transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999.

The Panama Canal, a critical maritime passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is crucial for global trade, handling approximately 3.5% of the world’s maritime traffic. The US remains the canal’s largest user, accounting for roughly 75% of its traffic, with China second. Recent challenges such as drought have underscored the canal’s vulnerability and the importance of its continued stable operation. Trump’s threats add a new layer of uncertainty to the canal’s future, raising questions about the potential impact on global trade and international relations.

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