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Trump Issues Comments On Canal
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Trump Issues Comments On Canal

Well, folks, it seems we’ve got ourselves a geopolitical showdown brewing, and the Panama Canal is right at the center of it. Donald Trump, never one to shy away from bold declarations, has set his sights on what he calls one of the “most foolish decisions in American history”—Jimmy Carter’s handover of the Panama Canal. And let me tell you, this story’s got everything: national pride, international economics, and just a sprinkle of vintage Trump bravado.

Here’s the setup: Trump has accused Panama of “ripping us off” with what he calls exorbitant fees for ships passing through the canal—a vital trade artery that slices weeks off shipping routes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He’s also raising concerns about growing Chinese influence in the region, which, let’s be honest, is not exactly baseless given China’s aggressive investment strategies in global infrastructure.

Enter Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino. On Sunday, Mulino took to the airwaves with all the defiance of a man who knows his country is sitting on a strategic gold mine. Without naming Trump directly, Mulino stated with all the chest-thumping bravado he could muster: “Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama.”

Bold words, Mr. Mulino. But let’s face it—the Panama Canal isn’t just a waterway; it’s a geopolitical chess piece. And Trump knows how to play the game.

Now, Mulino insists that the canal’s tariffs aren’t arbitrary, that they’re carefully calculated based on operational costs, supply and demand, and infrastructure investments. Fair enough—Panama did invest billions into expanding the canal to accommodate larger ships, and someone’s got to pay for that. But Trump’s not buying it.

On Truth Social, Trump fired back with a classic “We’ll see about that!”—a phrase that works equally well at a negotiating table or a poker table. He’s not mincing words about his view of the canal: “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.”

And you know what? He’s not wrong about the canal’s importance to the United States. It’s not just about saving time and money on shipping—it’s a critical piece of our national security infrastructure. The canal allows the U.S. Navy to rapidly deploy ships between oceans in times of crisis. It’s a logistical lifeline that most Americans probably don’t think about when they click “buy now” on their latest Amazon order, but its significance can’t be overstated.

So what happens next? Well, Trump’s remarks could very well be a high-stakes negotiating tactic. He’s known for throwing out bold opening offers to set the stage for a deal. Or—let’s not rule this out—he might be entirely serious. If history’s any guide, Trump doesn’t bluff without a plan.

The tools at his disposal are plenty. Economic pressure, trade incentives, military cooperation deals—you name it. And don’t forget the wildcard: Trump’s floated the idea of sending illegal immigrants whose home countries refuse to take them back to places like Panama, the Bahamas, and Grenada. Whether or not he’s serious about that plan is almost beside the point. It’s leverage.

Here’s the bottom line: Panama may be small, but its canal is mighty, and this isn’t a battle of equals. The United States holds most of the cards here, and Mulino knows it. But don’t underestimate the power of national pride—Panamanians view the canal as a hard-won symbol of sovereignty, and Mulino’s not going to just roll over.

Written by Arthur Higgens - December 23, 2024