Tue Dec 31 23:09:06 UTC 2024: ## Trump Threatens to Reclaim Panama Canal on 25th Anniversary of Transfer

**Panama City, Panama** – Panama celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Panama Canal’s return to Panamanian control on Tuesday, a milestone overshadowed by US President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed threats to reclaim the vital waterway. The celebratory ceremony, which included a moment of silence for former US President Jimmy Carter, who brokered the canal’s transfer in 1977, was met with defiance from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino.

Mulino firmly rejected Trump’s assertions, stating, “There are no hands involved in the canal other than Panama’s. Rest assured, it will be in our hands forever.” He dismissed Trump’s claims without directly mentioning him.

Trump, however, has repeatedly accused Panama of charging “exorbitant prices” for canal passage and violating the 1977 agreement. In posts on his social media platform, he threatened to seize control of the canal, calling the current arrangement a “complete ‘rip-off'” and warning Panama to comply with what he considers the spirit and letter of the agreement. He even insinuated that Chinese soldiers are operating the canal, a claim Panamanian officials vehemently deny. Former canal administrator Jorge Luis Quijano stated that Trump’s claims lack legal basis.

The anniversary commemorated not only the handover of the canal but also the Panamanian lives lost fighting for its return, including those killed during the 1964 Martyrs’ Day protests. The event highlighted the complex history of the canal, from its construction under US control to its eventual transfer, a process significantly influenced by President Carter’s efforts. Trump’s threats cast a shadow over the celebrations, raising questions about the future of the strategically important waterway and US-Panamanian relations.

Read More