President-elect Donald Trump has accused Panama of charging excessive rates for the use of the Panama Canal and warned that if the canal is not managed appropriately, he would demand it be handed back to the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed concern that China might have too much control over the canal and emphasized that it should not fall into the “wrong hands.”
This is unusual because it’s not common for a leader of the United States to say that another country should give up control of its own land. This shows a possible change in how the U.S. deals with other countries when Trump is in charge. Trump is known for speaking directly and not being afraid to use pressure in foreign affairs.
The United States built the Panama Canal and managed the area around it for many years. In 1999, they fully handed over control to Panama after working together for a while. Trump criticized Panama for charging high fees, he added that the U.S. didn’t give control of the canal for the benefit of others. Trump warned that if Panama doesn’t follow the rules of this agreement, the U.S. would demand the canal’s return.
