Panama’s President Responds to Trump Saying He Will ‘Take Back’ Canal

Panama President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s assertion, made during his inaugural speech on Monday, that the United States will “take back” the Panama Canal.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mulino reaffirmed Panama’s sovereignty over the canal, emphasizing that the waterway will remain under Panamanian control in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaty signed in 1977.

Why It Matters

During his campaign, Trump did not express any intention to take back the Panama Canal but began talking last month about wanting possession of the vital waterway.

During his inaugural address, Trump said the spirit of a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter, which relinquished control of the canal in 1999, had been breached. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated,” he said.

He said that the waterway should have never been given away and that “American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly.” He also repeated his claim that “China is operating the Panama Canal.” Earlier this month, he said he would not rule out military force to take control of it.

What We Know

The Panamanian government swiftly issued a rebuttal through a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), affirming the canal’s sovereignty.

“I must fully reject the statements made by President Donald Trump regarding Panama and its Canal in his inaugural address. I reiterate what I said in my message to the nation on December 22: the Canal is and will remain Panamanian,” Mulino said.

Mulino’s statement emphasized that the canal was a product of “generational struggles” culminating in the treaty, not a concession. “Since then, for 25 uninterrupted years, we have administered and expanded it responsibly to serve the world and its trade, including the United States,” he said.

He further warned that any actions against Panama’s sovereignty would prompt the country to exercise its rights under the treaty. Panama will uphold its dignity and leverage the strength provided by international law as the proper foundation for managing relations between nations, he added.

“Dialogue remains the ideal approach to address these issues without compromising our rights, full sovereignty, or ownership of our Canal,” he said.

What People Are Saying

José Raúl Mulino said on X: “The Canal was not a concession to anyone. It was the result of generational struggles that culminated in 1999, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaty.”

Representative Mike Kelly wrote in a Newsweek op-ed: “We must recognize the challenges posed by China and the importance of the Panama Canal to the United States. Perhaps one day, our children and grandchildren will study how the ‘Trump Doctrine’ confronted foreign influence and safeguarded the American way of life.”

The progressive Call to Activism account on X said: “Donald Trump says he can’t assure the world he won’t use military force to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal. Greenland is a territory owned by Denmark. This is one of the dumbest and most dangerous things Trump has ever said.”

What’s Next

With Trump sworn in as the 47th president on Monday, he returned to power with a pledge to end what he sees as America’s decline and “completely and totally reverse” the policies of Joe Biden, who ousted him from office four years ago.

In his speech, Trump vowed to lead a government that “expands our territory,” referencing his ambitions to acquire Greenland from Denmark and reclaim U.S. control of the Panama Canal. However, the path to achieving these goals remains uncertain, as he is likely to face resistance both domestically and internationally.