“Take back the Panama Canal” – Trump threatens in swearing-in speech

The new US President Donald Trump reiterated in his inaugural speech that he wants to restore his country’s control over the Panama Canal. The US would “take back” the canal, Trump said on Monday after his swearing-in at the Capitol in Washington.

The Republican once again denounced allegedly excessive fees for US ships in the waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific, which is important for global trade. Trump also alleged that the canal, which was once built by the USA, is now in fact no longer controlled by the Central American state of Panama, but by China.

“We didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And we’re taking it back,” Trump said. Before he took office, he had already threatened that the canal would be taken over by the USA. At a press conference at the beginning of the year, he did not rule out the use of military means.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump’s threats and claims. Panama’s sovereignty and independence are “non-negotiable,” he explained.

The Panama Canal, built by the USA, was opened in 1914. In 1977, then US President Jimmy Carter and the then Panamanian military ruler Omar Torrijos signed an agreement to hand over the canal to Panama, and in 1999 the Panamanian state took control of the waterway.

The Panama Canal is of central importance for world trade. It is estimated that five percent of global commercial shipping traffic passes through the waterway. The canal is a short route between the Atlantic and Pacific, which saves ships the lengthy journey around South America. The countries that use the Panama Canal most intensively are the USA, China, Japan and South Korea.