A cargo ship leaves the Panama Canal in Panama City on June 17, 2024.
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President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday accused Panama of charging exorbitant fees for use of the Panama Canal and said he would demand that U.S. allies hand it over if it cannot manage it in an acceptable manner.
In an evening post on Truth Social, Trump also warned that he would not let the canal fall into “the wrong hands.” He appeared to warn of China’s potential influence on the passage, writing that the canal should not be run by China .
The post was an extremely rare example of a U.S. leader saying he could force a sovereign nation to hand over territory. It also underscores an expected shift in U.S. diplomacy under Trump, who has not historically shied away from threatening allies and using bellicose rhetoric when dealing with adversaries.
For decades, the United States primarily built canals and administered territory around them. But after a period of joint management, the U.S. government handed over full control of the canal to Panama in 1999.
“The fees Panama charges are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity the United States has given to Panama,” Trump wrote in his “Truth Society” post.
“This is not for the benefit of others, but only as a symbol of cooperation with us and Panama. If the moral and legal principles of this generous gesture of donation are not respected, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in its entirety and without question. “
The Panamanian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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