Panamanian President Rejects Trump's Vow to 'Take Back' Canal

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JAN 21

Above: Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino raises the Panamanian flag during a ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of the handover of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, on Dec. 31, 2024. Image copyright: Chen Haoquan/Xinhua News Agency/Contributor via Getty Imagesstory last updated JAN 22

The Facts

Panama's Pres. José Raúl Mulino reaffirmed his country's sovereignty over the Panama Canal in a statement on social media platform X on Monday, stressing that the waterway "is and will remain" under Panamanian control.
This comes as US Pres. Donald Trump said in his inaugural speech that he would take the Panama Canal back amid claims that Panama has failed to make good on its promise to guarantee the neutrality of the canal.
According to the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaty, under which the US transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999, Panama must ensure that the installation remains open to peaceful transit for vessels from all nations both in time of peace and in time of war.

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

America could effectively take the canal back by ramping up investments in it, so it makes no sense at all to bully an ally such as Panama into returning the canal to the US — especially not when the president wants to be a peacemaker and keep the country out of pointless and costly conflicts. And yet, this unwise move is exactly what one expects of Trump.

Atlantic Council CNN Reason.com

Pro-Trump narrative

That Panama allowed — and encouraged — Communist China to gain de facto control over the waterway that is key to US commercial ships and naval forces violates its treaty obligations and threatens America's national security and core interests. Trump was left no option other than to restore US control over the Panama Canal.

Daily Caller New York Post The National Interest