[The Panamá Canal. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

President Elect Donald Trump released a statement on Christmas Day via Truth Social, his social media platform operated by Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., regarding the Panamá Canal. 

In his post, he addressed Chinese personnel “who are lovingly, but illegally” operating the canal. 

These comments come amid concerns among American shipment companies that China has planted surveillance technology in the canal to monitor US ships and cargo. 

The statement  follows Trump’s December 22 speech to a crowd of his supporters and young Republican activists in Phoenix, Arizona, where he accused the Panamanian government of ripping off the US with high rates to use the canal and promised to reinstate American control. 

“I will demand that the canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question,” Trump declared, if the “ridiculous, highly unfair” rates are not lowered. 

Shortly after his speech, he posted an image on Truth Social featuring the American flag flying over the Panamá Canal with the caption “Welcome to the United States Canal!” 

The construction of the famous canal began in 1881 under Ferdinand de Lesseps and French workers, but ended in 1889 due to lack of investor confidence, high worker mortality rates, and tropical diseases. 

The project was resumed by the US in 1904 and completed in 1914 at the cost of 5,600 lives and $375 million. 

The canal was controlled by the US until 1977 when President Jimmy Carter signed the Neutrality Treaty and the Panamá Canal Treaty, establishing that the US would use its military to defend the canal while transferring ownership to Panama on December 31, 1999. 

As of 2024, the US is the number one user of the canal with 40% of US container traffic crossing the channel. 

China accounts for 21% of traffic, followed by Japan at 14%. 

However, high usage has resulted in substantial tolls, further increased  by a historic drought in Panamá this year. 

Fast forward to today, Trump’s recent statements have reignited public debate regarding Carter’s decision, the validity of the treaties, and potential US ownership of the canal. 

Conservative groups have expressed particular enthusiasm about his proposals, though they raise serious diplomatic and legal questions.

Fox News, a news outlet known for its support of President Elect Trump during his first presidency and campaign, praised his stance, characterizing it as “a new Panamá Canal treaty for the American People” and lauding his approach to “the most complex foreign policy landscape.” 

In contrast, Trump’s statements provoked strong opposition in Panamá.

During a recent weekly press conference, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino vehemently denied the presence of Chinese soldiers on the canal. 

He further asserted that “The canal is Panamanian and belongs to the Panamians” who have sacrificed their “blood, sweat, and tears” to build the canal. 

A protest also broke out in front of the US embassy in Panamá City, the capital city of Panamá, where the crowd held up their national flag and burned flags bearing Trump’s image. 

Whether Trump will follow through with his threats remains to be seen, but sets an interesting stage for his second presidency starting on January 20, 2025.