The global ramification of the landslide election of Donald J. Trump are being felt daily. With a single post, punctuated by a speech this weekend, the president-elect made waves simultaneously on opposite sides of the globe by dusting off an long-festering issue for many patriotic Americans — the Panama Canal.
Some readers will recall that between Jan. 20, 1977 and Jan. 20, 1981, the United States suffered through a crippling energy crisis. Americans were held hostage in Iran. The Nicaraguan Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan also grabbed headlines.
They all happened during the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
What else did Carter do?
He only signed away American control of the Panama Canal.
Panama officially assumed full control over the canal in 1999. By 2017, that control unofficially had shifted heavily toward Communist China.
It was in 2017 that Panama broke off relations with Taiwan to establish ties with China.
Since then, some 40 Chinese companies have a presence in Panama. Beijing has its tentacles in mining, finance, logistics, and telecommunications in the Central American nation. Many of the Chinese firms, including tech giant Huawei, have distribution centers in the Colon Free Zone.
China also controls two of the five ports adjacent to the canal, Balboa on the Pacific, and Cristobal on the Caribbean.
WorldTribune.com has previously reported on China's Panama Canal influence:
Related: Trump reminds: U.S. under Carter allowed the Panama Canal to come under China’s control, August 24, 2023
Related: Who needs the Panama Canal?, 1999 Archives
Now Donald Trump is hinting that it may be time for America to take it back.
During his speech at AmFest on Sunday, Trump said Panama is "ripping off" the U.S. by charging excessive fees for ships that use the canal to cross between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
“Has anyone ever heard of the Panama Canal?” Trump told the crowd. ” “Because we’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair.”
When an audience member yelled out “take it back,” Trump replied: “That’s a good idea.”
In an earlier 342-word history lesson of a social media post, Trump mentioned the world "China" only once. One was enough.
In his campaign stump speech, Trump regularly mentioned what a good relationship he had with Xi Jinping. Good until, he would note pointedly, the onset of the Wuhan, China virus.
Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social on Saturday:
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 U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports. The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports. 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. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage.
Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete “rip-off” of our Country will immediately stop. The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!
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