INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to regain United States ownership of the Panama Canal, which the United States
previously controlled until a treaty transferred full ownership to Panama in 1999
The canal facilitates hundreds of billions of dollars of trade each year
shipping and port operations.Why does the canal matter?The fifty-one-mile long canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is a
critical global maritime passageway
By allowing vessels to bypass the lengthy trip around the southernmost tip of South America, the canal significantly reduces both the time
to both the United States and Panamanian economies
Other major users of the waterway include Chile, China, Japan, and South Korea.In 2023, canal authorities increased the fees for passing
events and other climate disruptions increasingly challenge global supply chains.Why does Trump want to retake control of the canal?Trump
President Jimmy Carter as part of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed with Panama in 1977
no evidence that the Chinese government controls the canal
China has also been involved in several infrastructure projects in Panama, including the construction of a cruise-ship terminal and a
The Torrijos-Carter Treaties established joint United States -Panamanian authority over the canal until 1999, at which point the United
States relinquished full control of the canal to the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government agency of Panama.However, the transfer
of ownership was controversial
Some lawmakers staunchly opposed relinquishing United States control, saying the decision diminished United States influence in the region
Additionally, many policymakers saw the canal as essential for ensuring uninterrupted access to global shipping routes and believed
Mulino, who has pledged greater cooperation with the United States, reiterated his position after Trump again mentioned regaining control of
the waterway in his inaugural address.(Source: Council on Foreign Relations)
