Trump Claims US Will Reclaim Panama Canal

In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump declared that the United States would 'take back' the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of violating the terms of the 1977 treaty that returned control of the waterway. Trump criticized the transfer, claiming it has led to unfair treatment of American ships, and alleged that Chinese influence over the canal poses a threat. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded by asserting that the canal remains under Panama's control and rejecting any notion of foreign interference. Trump’s comments reignited longstanding tensions regarding U.S. involvement in the region and the strategic significance of the canal. He also indicated plans to expand U.S. territory, including mentioning Greenland, amidst rising geopolitical concerns. This rhetoric reflects Trump's broader agenda of restoring perceived past American dominance in global affairs.