Trump threatens to retake Panama Canal

[highplainsdem]

Source: Politico

President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Saturday that the U.S. would reassume control of the Panama Canal if it felt that Panama wasn’t honoring the terms of a 1977 treaty regarding the waterway’s legal status.

In two lengthy Truth Social posts Saturday evening, Trump accused Panama of charging U.S. vessels exorbitant rates to pass through the critical waterway. He also claimed that the treaties enabling Panama to take control of the canal in the first place also allow for the U.S. to take it back.

-snip-

But after decades of tensions around the canal, the Carter administration signed two treaties in 1977 with Panama’s military dictator, Omar Torrijos, to transition control of the vital shipping passage over to Panama. Under the terms of those treaties, Panama would gain control of the canal by 1999 and the U.S. would retain the right to defend the canal from any threat to its neutrality.

Analysts, however, do not believe that those provisions in the treaty would allow for the United States to legally retake control of the canal.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/21/trump-panama-canal-00195820

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Full text of Trump's messages here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219841758

[Joinfortmill]

1. Demented Trump is rambling again.

[delisen]

2. .. and make ships wait to pass while Trump tries to not fund our government

Trump and the MAGA party threatens to shut down our govt every few months. I think world shipping will prefer the more stable government of Panama at this point

The big T will soon demand that the earth stop spinning. What an embarrassment the Project 2025ers are.

[Brainstormy]

3. Never a dull moment. N/t

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Constantly trying to remake reality using powers that he does not possess

Panama Canal is settled. Unless your mind lives in 1920.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Make Canada the 51st state, invade Mexico, take the Panama Canal.

He is sending a message that he owns North and Central American.
He has total control.

This is how fascists operate.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Interesting observation. He's been all over the map today

and the pronouncements are bold, expansive, he owns it all he says. But Congress is skeptical of his power. Just because he says it doesn't make it so. It's like the famous example of the Fed, pushing on a string.

Why aren't we trying to steal Trump's victory the way he tried to steal ours? Wouldn't that be just? Turnabout is fair play.

[Irish_Dem]

12. It's all the same thing. Threatening our allies in North and Central America.

He wants to establish control over the entire region.
And damage our alliances.

Russia wants Ukraine and control over Europe.
China wants Taiwan and control over the Pacific.

Trump has apparently been given North and Central America.

It is the new fascist global order.

This is one reason Trump has to get control over the US military.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Invisible deals at higher levels. This is very ominous. Very. But u are correct. /nt

[Irish_Dem]

15. While Americans fret about the price of eggs, the global autocrats have been working hard.

The deals are not invisible, they are pretty much out in the open for anyone to see.

China and Russia have not been hiding their plans at all.

[slightlv]

21. Don't forget Greenland!

He not only seeks to destabilize the world for his good friend Putin.. I think he's actively looking to annex land outside the lower 49 states, such to become either a maga safe world, or to lock up the resistors in an area away from the rest of America, hence diluting their influence. Now he's not smart enough to come up with this on his own, but Bannon and Musk and Miller are....

I think the larger the land mass the more likely to create an alternative US. Plus, Trump is just basically following Mein Kampf... worldwide dominion and control. King os the US isn't enough... he wants to be world emperor.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Yes Trump is building empire.

For the sake of power and financial gain.

He wishes to be the richest man in the world and grabbing other countries' land and resources
could make him quite wealthy. And powerful.

Yes he wishes to destabilize the world so Putin and Xi can rise to power.
And he is providing cover for China's grab of Taiwan and Pacific territory.
And Putin's invasion of countries in Europe.

It is the new world order. Trump gets North and Central America, Putin gets Europe, Xi the Pacific.

While Americans obsess about the price of eggs, the world is being divided up.

[homegirl]

22. How about..

buy Greenland from Denmark!

[Irish_Dem]

26. Yes Trump can put that in his shopping cart too.

Why the H not.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Trump doesn't care about the legality, he takes what he wants.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

7. How long before we invade Grenada...again?

[Ping Tung]

10. Do not underestimate the military power of Mighty Grenada. It has recovered from the last colossal war with the USA.

Over the last 20 years it's invasion fleet has grown from 21 Battleships (aka trawlers) to 23, and 97 drones (aka kites) heavily armed with discarded rum bottles.

Their plan is to invade Malibu as soon a climate change lowers the Pacific Ocean to 27fr.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. Didn't he want to buy Greenland before?

Sick mofo thinks he can just take over possession of anything if he wants it?

[tanyev]

9. "Grab 'em by the locks. You can do anything."

[rampartd]

13. one of many thins that reagan lambasted jimmy carter for

the acual reality is that the canal is very vulnerable to terrorism, sabotage or attack, all less likely if a neutral country : panama is in control.

[LeftInTX]

16. Was this one of his plans previously?

[Aristus]

17. Well, he did so well with the acquisition of Greenland.

I’m sure he’s got this one…

[kimbutgar]

18. He probably doesn't even know where it is and someone put it in his little brain!

[Mz Pip]

19. Oh, FFS

How much more embarrassing can it get?

[JoseBalow]

20. Dipshit attempting to get attention

This is nothing more than the same old stale and tired shtick this moron always pulls to get attention and drive the news cycle. Don't give him the satisfaction of discussing it in any serious way, it's only suitable as fodder to mock his buffoonery.

[Aussie105]

24. Rambo Trump will storm in and set things straight!

As soon as he has done the same thing in Ukraine and the Middle East.

[LudwigPastorius]

25. He wants to start a real shooting war that he knows he can win.

Why?

More power

47 U.S. Code § 606 - War powers of President

[tirebiter]

27. Bush Sr did this already.

You people sleeping or what? Besides Nicaragua is going to dig another canal.

[underpants]

28. This is a distraction from his embarrassing and emasculating last few days

I remember the outrage when President Carter did this in the SEVENTIES. Trump is reaching back about something that really no one cares about. The canal works and it should be Panama’s.

[qazplm135]

29. Fun fact

I wrote a paper in law school arguing that the original treaty wasn't properly ratified and thus is invalid.

I don't actually think it was by any means iron clad, highly technical and almost assuredly not something I thought anyone would jump on.

I better go burn it lol

[cstanleytech]

30. I don't think Congress or President Musk would approve the proposal from What'sHisName.

[AverageOldGuy]

31. Trump's dementia is showing . . .

. . . more and more every day.

Arrest anyone who has ever said a negative word about him; make Canada the 51st state; war on Mexico; establish a "warrior panel" to decide which admirals and generals are "warriors" and fire the rest; take back the Panama Canal.

Is Cuba next? We could dust off the Bay of Pigs, "Remember the Maine", and charge up San Juan Hill.

[Hard_Truth_Dem]

32. He is not even in charge yet

Biden or those around him need to say something on this. By Biden saying something or anything, will help him look engaged. The orange man is able to look strong when he is not even the MAN yet. We should encourage Biden to look strong on the way out. Rock on Biden! Kamala can look strong to tell the orange man to back down too!

[Lulu KC]

36. Biden looks strong if you look for the information

Record breaking number of judges appointed; more women and POC judges; went back to Washington on the weekend before Christmas to sign the budget bill that Congress won over DT's wishes; and I am sure doing plenty of work behind the scenes on critical international issues.

Joe doesn't need us to tell him what to do.

[Historic NY]

33. The cost for repairs and upkeep will keep him from it, 350 million per year.

Thats just a drop in the bucket towards the billions needed to extend the canal life.

Trump keeps up his tariff BS Panama should slap greater fees to use it.

[Yavin4]

34. I thought Trump was the no war president.

All those anti-war folks told me so during two campaigns.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

35. Adding a link

Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal

December 22, 2024 3:35 AM
By Agence France-Presse


US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2024.

WASHINGTON — Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday slammed what he called unfair fees for U.S. ships passing through the Panama Canal and threatened to demand control of the waterway be returned to Washington.

He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, a worrying trend for American interests as U.S. businesses depend on the channel to move goods between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. … "Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous," he said in a post on his Truth Social platform. … "This complete 'rip-off' of our Country will immediately stop."

The Panama Canal, which was completed by the United States in 1914, was returned to the Central American country under a 1977 deal signed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter. … Panama took full control in 1999. … "It was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else," Trump said. "We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands!"

He continued that if Panama could not ensure "the secure, efficient and reliable operation" of the channel, "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question." … Authorities in Panama did not immediately react to Trump's post.

{snip}