Former President Donald Trump reportedly directed the U.S. military to develop plans for increasing the American troop presence in the Panama Canal, according to NBC News. U.S. Southern Command is said to be evaluating multiple options, including diplomatic cooperation with Panama and potential direct action to regain control of the critical shipping lane.
During his March 6 address to Congress, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to reclaiming the Panama Canal, emphasizing its importance to national security. “The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it. But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure,” Trump said. He asserted that the Carter administration’s decision to transfer control of the canal to Panama was a mistake and accused China of violating the terms of that agreement.
While military intervention remains unlikely, sources indicated that U.S. action could depend on Panama’s willingness to cooperate with Washington. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded to Trump’s remarks by stating that “the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama,” rejecting claims that the U.S. has a right to reclaim it.
The Trump administration has long expressed concern over China’s growing influence in the canal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized this issue during a visit to Panama on February 2, warning that the “current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal” was unacceptable. In response, Panama announced that it would not renew its participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure program that the country joined in 2017.
China’s presence in the canal has expanded significantly in recent decades. The Chinese company Landbridge Group acquired Panama’s largest Atlantic port, Margarita Island, for $900 million in 2016. Additionally, Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports was granted a 25-year renewal to operate ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the canal. However, American investment firm BlackRock recently purchased those ports from Hutchison for $22.8 billion on March 5.
China has rejected claims that it exerts undue influence over the canal’s operations. The Chinese government accused the U.S. of using “coercion” to undermine Chinese economic projects in the region, according to the Associated Press.
The Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command, and the Panama Canal Authority have not yet commented on reports of U.S. military planning in the region. The situation remains a developing issue as U.S.-China tensions over global trade and infrastructure investment continue to escalate.
