Panama, familiar with US intervention, bristles at Trump’s comments on canal
Associated PressJAN 28
Panamanian President Rejects Trump's Vow to 'Take Back' Canal
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 Images
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.
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.