Trump Says U.S. Will Reclaim The Panama Canal In Inaugural Address: ‘We’re Taking It Back’

During his inaugural speech on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would be “taking back the Panama Canal” after alleging that China was in control of the waterway.

After casting himself as a peacemaker, pointing to the Gaza ceasefire deal that began on Sunday, he immediately vowed that the United States would be “taking back” the Panama Canal. In recent weeks, Trump has refused to rule out the use of military action against Panama over the waterway.

“Above all, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And we’re taking it back,” Trump said in his inaugural address. Trump also claimed that U.S. ships were being overcharged for passage through the Panama Canal.

China has been working to expand its influence in Panama for years. Recently, a Chinese state-owned company won a $1.4 billion contract to build a fourth bridge over the canal. The countries also said they would eventually negotiate a free-trade agreement.

Chinese companies have increased their presence in the canal, but Panama has maintained control since the United States handed over at the end of 1999.

President Jimmy Carter negotiated its return in 1977. He said he saw a moral responsibility to respect a less powerful but fully sovereign nation.

Trump’s choice for Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not make any remarks about military action in his confirmation hearing, but he did suggest that China, through its influence, could shut down the Panama Canal to the United States in crisis.

“The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated,” Trump said. “We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama’s promise to us has been broken,” he said. 

Trump promised that the U.S. would not be “taken advantage” of under his watch and declared an immediate “overhaul of our trade system.”

“America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on Earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world,” he said.

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