President-elect Donald Trump accused Panama yesterday of collecting excessive fees for using the Panama Canal and said that if Panama does not manage the canal in an acceptable manner, he may ask this US ally to return it, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In an evening post on “Truth Social“ (Truth Social), Trump also warned that he would not allow the canal to fall into “bad hands”. He appeared to be referring to potential Chinese influence on the sea route, because he wrote that the Panama Canal should not be managed by China.
Trump's post on social media represents something that happens very rarely to a US leader – to say that he can force a sovereign state to hand over territory.
Trump's announcement also underscores an expected shift in U.S. diplomacy during his term.
Trump has not spared himself threats to allies and has used bellicose rhetoric when communicating with partners, Reuters notes.
The United States largely built the canal and managed the territory around it for decades. But in 1999 the US government handed over full control of the Panama Canal after a period of joint administration.
“The fees charged by Panama are ridiculous especially considering the extraordinary generosity shown by the United States to Panama“, Trump wrote in his post.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but simply as a sign of cooperation between us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture are not respected, we will demand the return of the Panama Canal, in full and without question."
The Panamanian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
