In brief
In a recent wave of tweets, Trump claims Panama overcharges American ships and suggests military control by Chinese forces, reigniting Republican skepticism about the canal's handover.
Donald J. Trump, the president-elect, is making headlines with his aggressive stance toward the Panama Canal, claiming that Panama is charging exorbitant fees for U.S. ships passing through. He has declared that if negotiations for reduced fees are not successful once he takes office, he’ll demand full control of the canal. During his announcement of ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera, Trump accused Panama's government of unfairly profiting from the canal. In a social media post, Trump erroneously claimed that Chinese soldiers were involved in operating the canal and lamented the billions the U.S. invests in maintenance without getting a say in operations.This isn't the first time the issue of U.S. control of the canal has come under scrutiny. Some Republicans have long opposed the transfer of the canal to Panama back in 1999, a move established by treaties signed under President Jimmy Carter. Prominent figures like Ronald Reagan have emphasized that the canal was built and paid for by American resources, sparking ongoing debate within a faction of the GOP about its current ownership.
