The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that “unfair fees” were being applied to US ships passing through the Panama Canal and said, “This robbery of our country will stop immediately. We will demand the return of the Panama Canal to us in full and without question.”
The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, continues to implement his “America First” policy.
Trump, who will take office next month, criticized the fees imposed on U.S. ships passing through the Panama Canal in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, calling them “unfair.”
“Our navy and our commerce have been treated very unfairly and unjustly. The fees demanded by Panama are ridiculous. This robbery of our country will stop immediately,” Trump said in his statement.
Referring to China’s growing influence around the canal, Trump said, “It was solely Panama’s place to run this place, not China or anyone else. “We will never and will not allow it to fall into the wrong hands.”
Stating that they will take action if Panama fails to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the canal, Trump made the statement, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in full and without question.”
Panama officials did not respond to Trump’s words.
PANAMA GAINED FULL CONTROL IN 1999 Construction started by France in 1881 stopped after approximately 10 years due to very high costs and increasing epidemic diseases among workers.
The USA purchased the canal project in 1904 and completed the project in 1914. The Panama Canal was returned to the Central American country with the agreement signed by US President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Panama gained full control of the canal in 1999.
