Trump further said that the canal would have been costly to Americans and that former President Jimmy Carter “foolishly” abandoned it.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump issued a strongly worded statement on Sunday threatening Panama to return the canal to them, saying it was a vital U.S. asset. In the wrong hands”.
Statement from President Donald J. Trump: pic.twitter.com/pfuDqVjw6R — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 21, 2024
“The Panama Canal is vital to the U.S. economy and national security and is therefore considered a critical national asset of the United States. A secure Panama Canal is critical to U.S. commerce and the rapid deployment of the Navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and significantly shortens the route to the U.S. transit times at the port, the United States is the No. 1 user of the canal, with more than 70 percent of transit cargo going to or from U.S. ports,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump further said that the canal would have been costly to Americans and that former President Jimmy Carter “foolishly” abandoned it. He warned of China’s influence in the region. “Considered one of the wonders of the modern world, the Panama Canal opened 110 years ago at great cost to the United States in life and treasure – 38,000 American men died from infected mosquitoes in the jungle during construction. Roosevelt in It was built by a president of the United States who understood the power of naval power and trade, and when President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away for a dollar, it was entirely up to anyone to run it during his term,” he said.
Trump added that the canal would be managed by Panama. He criticized Panama for charging “exorbitant prices” to the United States. “Similarly, Panama does not charge excessive prices and tolls to the United States, its navy and businesses doing business in our country. Our navy and commerce have been treated very unfairly and unwisely. These fees are what Panama alleges are Ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity the United States has given to Panama, this complete “deception” of our country will stop immediately,” he said. The US president-elect said the United States would never let the Panama Canal fall into “the wrong hands.”
“It has always been known that the United States has a vested interest in the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the Panama Canal. We will never let it fall into the wrong hands! It is not provided for the benefit of anyone else but Just as a symbol of cooperation with us and Panama, if the moral and legal principles of this generous donation are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in its entirety, without any compensation,” he said.
The Panama Canal was completed in 1914 and symbolized the technological and economic strength of the United States. Although U.S. control of the canal ultimately became an irritant in U.S. relations with Panama, at the time it was viewed as a major foreign policy achievement as the U.S. built the canal.
(This article has not been edited by DNA staff and is published by ANI)