Trump Threatens to Regain Control Of The Panama Canal

• 22.12.2024, 8:35

The US President-elect said he will not allow the canal to fall into the "wrong hands".

US President-elect Donald Trump has accused Panama of charging excessive tolls for the Panama Canal. The Republican said that if the country does not acceptably manage the canal, he will demand that it be handed over.

This is reported by Hindustan Times.

"The tolls Panama is charging are ridiculous, especially considering the extraordinary generosity the US has shown Panama," Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.

He also warned that he will not allow the canal to fall into the "wrong hands". The publication points out that Trump warned about possible Chinese influence on the passage, writing that the canal should not be managed (by China).

"It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US," he concluded.

Hindustan Times recalled that the US largely built and managed the area around the passage for decades. But in 1999, the US government handed over control of the canal to Panama after a period of joint management.

Recall that Trump recently threatened the EU. He said that EU member states must buy more oil and gas from the US. Otherwise, prices will be raised.

“I told the EU that they must offset their huge deficit with the US by buying our oil and gas on a large scale. Otherwise, there will be TARIFFS forever!!!”, Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.