(AmericanProsperity.com) – After calling out the unfair treatment of U.S. ships, President-elect Donald Trump threatened to demand the swift return of the Panama Canal.
Speaking at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona, Trump did not mince words about the current state of affairs at the Panama Canal.
He declared, “Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous.”
The president-elect said that if Panama could not ensure the channel’s “secure, efficient and reliable operation,” his administration would “demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.”
Trump pointed out China’s growing influence around the canal, which poses a huge threat to U.S. interests.
“It was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands!” Trump stated.
The Panama Canal is a vital route for global maritime traffic as it makes nearly 5% of world trade possible.
It also plays a key role in commerce between Asia and the U.S. East Coast.
Since the United States is one of the primary users of the canal, along with China, Japan and South Korea, maintaining American influence over this strategic asset is important.
The canal was completed by the U.S. in 1914. It remained under American control until 1999 when former President Jimmy Carter handed it over to Panama under the terms of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.
Many patriotic Americans view this transfer as a mistake that left a critical infrastructure piece vulnerable to foreign manipulation.
Panama’s current president, José Raúl Mulino, has rejected Trump’s suggestion, citing his country’s sovereignty.
The Panama Canal Authority reported record revenues of nearly $5 billion in the last fiscal year, yet American ships continue to face unfair treatment and excessive fees.
Trump’s vision for America extends beyond just addressing the Panama Canal issue.
At the AmericaFest rally, he outlined a thorough plan for national renewal, promising a booming economy, secure borders and resolution of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
“I can proudly proclaim that the Golden Age of America is upon us. There’s a spirit that we have now that we didn’t have just a short while ago,” Trump expressed.
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