Wed Jan 22 02:33:16 IST 2025: ## Trump’s Controversial Inaugural Promises: Canal Claim and Gulf Rename Spark International Outcry

**Panama City, Panama/Washington D.C.** – In a surprise announcement during his second-term inauguration, President Donald Trump reiterated his intention to reclaim the Panama Canal and rename the Gulf of Mexico “the Gulf of America.” The pronouncements have been met with swift and widespread condemnation.

Trump, invoking the 19th-century doctrine of “Manifest Destiny,” declared the canal’s transfer to Panama a “foolish gift” and accused China (incorrectly) of operating it. He also claimed unfair treatment of American ships, citing increased tariffs. Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino immediately rejected Trump’s assertions, emphasizing Panama’s full sovereignty over the canal and its surrounding areas. The 1977 treaty, under which the US relinquished control of the canal by 2000, grants no such right of reclamation.

Legal experts, including Al Jazeera’s James Bays, contend that any attempt by the US to seize the canal would constitute a violation of the UN Charter. The canal’s significance to global trade (2.5% of global sea trade and 40% of US container traffic) underscores the potential international ramifications. Trump has not detailed his plan, but past comments suggest he might resort to military or economic pressure.

Trump’s claim of 38,000 US lives lost during the canal’s construction, a figure disputed by historians, further fueled the controversy. While acknowledging deaths from disease, historians like Matthew Parker point to far lower figures, differentiating between the French and American phases of construction.

The proposed renaming of the Gulf of Mexico faces similar challenges. While the US could unilaterally change its internal designations, international recognition is not guaranteed. Precedent shows that naming maritime spaces is often a source of diplomatic tension, with numerous examples of ongoing disputes between nations. Experts note that there are no international laws dictating universally accepted names.

The Trump administration’s actions have created a significant diplomatic incident, jeopardizing US relations with Panama and potentially other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The international community awaits Trump’s next move and the potential consequences of his audacious claims.

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