Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to take back the Panama Canal, delivering an inaugural speech in which he invoked the 19th-century expansionist doctrine of “manifest destiny.”
Stepping up his pre-inauguration threat to restore U.S. control of the canal, Trump again accused Panama of breaking promises it made to finally hand over the strategic waterway in 1999 and turning over its operation to China – claims that the Panamanian government has vehemently denied.
“We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama and we're taking it back,” Trump said.
He gave no further details on when or how he planned to do so, but had previously refused to rule out the possible use of military force, drawing criticism from both Washington's friends and foes in Latin America.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino responded Monday on the
Trump's repetition of the Panama Canal threat early in his second term was his most blatant mention of the territorial expansion program he has unveiled in recent weeks.
In the run-up to the inauguration, he also stated that he wanted to take over Greenland, portraying the Danish overseas territory as crucial to U.S. national security interests, and considered turning Canada into an American state.
“We will follow our manifest destiny.”
Critics accuse Trump of using language evoking modern imperialism, suggesting that such rhetoric could encourage Russia to invade Ukraine and give China justification if it decides to invade self-governing Taiwan.
Some analysts question whether Trump is serious about continuing what critics say would amount to a land grab, speculating that he may adopt an extreme negotiating stance to force concessions later. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump was known for making several headline-making threats and statements that he failed to follow through on.
President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that the Panama Canal is “vital” to the United States and that treaties signed by former President Jimmy Carter to hand control of the canals to the Central American country were a “big mistake.”
Although Trump did not mention either Greenland or Canada in his inaugural speech he hinted at territorial aspirations during his second four-year term.
“The United States will once again see itself as a rising nation that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag to beautiful new horizons,” he said.
“And we will follow our Manifest Destiny to the stars by sending American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,” Trump said.
Manifest Destiny, a phrase originally coined in the mid-19th century, denoted the belief in the God-given right of the United States to extend its control over all of North America and was used to justify taking over Mexican and Native American lands.
In Monday's speech, Trump also repeated his promise to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf.
Former first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughed when US President Donald Trump announced during his inaugural speech that he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf.
Trump said the United States “stupidly” gave Panama the Panama Canal.
The United States largely built the canal and managed the territory surrounding the passage for decades. However, in 1977, the United States and Panama signed two agreements that paved the way for the canal to return to full Panamanian control. The United States handed it over in 1999, after a period of joint administration.
“We have been treated very badly because of this stupid gift that should never have been given, and the promise made to us by Panama has been broken. The purpose of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been completely violated,” Trump said.
He said American ships are “seriously overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form.”
Panama insisted that all ships passing through the canal be treated fairly and said China had no control over its administration.
China does not control or administer the canal but is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings 0001. HK has long operated two ports located at the Caribbean and Pacific entrances to the canal.
The canal is an 82-kilometer man-made waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through Panama and is critical to U.S. imports of cars and trade goods via container ships from Asia and to U.S. exports of goods, including liquefied natural gas.