Tue Jan 21 10:17:04 IST 2025: ## Trump’s Canal Claim Rejected by Panama
**Panama City, Panama** – Panama has firmly rejected former US President Donald Trump’s claim that the Panama Canal is unjustly operated and should be returned to US control. In his second inaugural address, Trump asserted that China was operating the canal, that US ships were being overcharged, and that he intended to reclaim the waterway, reversing the 1999 treaty that transferred control to Panama.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino swiftly denounced Trump’s statements as completely unfounded. Mulino emphasized the canal’s sovereignty and its operation free from foreign interference. He highlighted the historical struggle for Panamanian control culminating in the 1999 handover, rejecting the notion that the canal was ever a concession from the US.
Trump’s claim sparked concern among US officials as well. Senator Marco Rubio raised the issue of the potential for Chinese-owned ports at either end of the canal to disrupt US access in times of conflict. The canal, a critical trade route for the US, handles approximately 40% of US container ships and around 5% of global maritime trade.
The former president’s statement was met with widespread criticism, including from former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who noted the inherent contradiction between Trump’s stated goal of peacemaking and his attempt to seize the canal.
Trump’s assertion is not his only expansionist claim. He previously attempted, unsuccessfully, to acquire Greenland. His inaugural address outlined a broader vision for US territorial expansion and economic growth.
Other actions taken by Trump on his first day included considering new tariffs on Canada and Mexico and commuting the sentences of fourteen members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. His proposed revocation of birthright citizenship would require significant Congressional and state-level support.
First Piper 