Trump Reiterates Claims on Panama Canal Amid Growing Tensions with China

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President Donald Trump has renewed his calls for the United States to reclaim the Panama Canal, asserting that excessive fees for American ships and China's burgeoning influence over the waterway justify a reassertion of U.S. control. The Canal, completed by the U.S. in 1914, was handed back to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by former President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos, which ensures equal treatment of nations regarding tolls, thus contradicting Trump’s fee reduction demand, according to several analysts.

The historical context reveals a long-standing struggle over the Canal, commencing with its construction by the U.S. after supporting Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903. Subsequent disagreements flared up, notably during riots in 1964 when Panamanian students clashed with U.S. forces. Following negotiations in the late 1970s, the Canal was fully transferred to Panama, a move still resented by some U.S. conservatives.

China’s involvement has intensified since Panama recognized Beijing diplomatically in 2017, with major infrastructure projects increasingly executed by Chinese companies, prompting U.S. officials to warn against potential threats to national security, according to the U.S. Southern Command.

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