US President-elect Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that, according to him, the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally.
Trump said that the Panama Canal was not China’s and that it should not fall into the “wrong hands”.
“The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for US Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and drastically cuts shipping times to US ports. The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 per cent of all transits heading to, or from, US ports,” Trump said in his statement.
Trump further said that the canal came at a high cost for the Americans and that it was ‘foolishly’ given away by ex-US President Jimmy Carter. He warned of Chinese influence in the region.
“Considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago, and was built at HUGE cost to the United States in lives and treasure – 38,000 American men died from infected mosquitos in the jungles during construction. Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States at the time of its
building, and understood the strength of Naval Power and Trade.
When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else,” he said.
Trump added that the canal was to be managed by Panama. He criticised Panama for charging “exorbitant prices” from the US.