Controversy
Status:Open
Will the United States Take Control of the Panama Canal?
UNLIKELYLIKELY
Claims
Richard M. Sanders"The United States is vastly stronger than Panama and could take the canal back through military force or economic pressure if it so desired."Jan 21, 2025
The Hill"Such proposals [repurchasing the Panama Canal] are legally impossible and operationally unnecessary."Feb 01, 2025
Javier Martinez-Acha"The only hands operating the canal are Panamanian and that is how it is going to stay."Jan 08, 2025
Donald Trump"We didn't give [the Panama Canal] to China, we gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back."Jan 28, 2025
Jorge Luis Quijano"Legally, there's no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously."Dec 24, 2024
Ronald Reagan"We [the US] bought it [the Canal Zone], we paid for it, it's ours, and we're going to keep it."Mar 16, 2011
Donald Trump"We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question."Dec 24, 2024
Benjamin Gedan"There's very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms."Dec 24, 2024
Bruce Fein"Trump cannot acquire the Panama Canal except through the crime of aggressive war."Jan 21, 2025
Donald Trump"We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question."Dec 24, 2024
Jose Raul Mulino"Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong."Dec 23, 2024
