Incoming US President Donald Trump, has criticised Panama’s management of the Panama Canal, calling fees for US ships “ridiculous” and unfair.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump threatened to demand the canal’s return to US control if Panama cannot ensure its secure and efficient operation.
Trump also expressed concerns over China’s growing influence around the canal, calling it a “worrying trend” for American interests. He emphasized that the canal should remain solely under Panama’s control, not China’s or any other nation’s.
The Panama Canal, built by the US in 1914, was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a 1977 agreement signed by President Jimmy Carter. The canal facilitates about 5% of global maritime traffic, with its primary users including the US, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Panama has yet to respond to Trump’s remarks, which come just weeks before his inauguration. The canal reported record revenues of nearly $5 billion in the last fiscal year, underscoring its global significance.
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