Florida:
US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday accused Panama of charging exorbitant fees to use the Panama Canal and threatened to hand it over to a US ally if Panama does not manage the canal in an acceptable manner. He said he would request it.
In an evening post on Truth Social, President Trump also warned not to let the canal fall into the “wrong hands,” writing that the canal should not be controlled by China and discouraging China’s potential control over the canal. It seems like they warned you of the consequences.
The post was an extremely rare example of a U.S. leader saying he could force a sovereign nation to hand over territory. This is also an expected change in U.S. diplomacy under President Trump, who has historically not hesitated to threaten allies or use belligerent rhetoric when dealing with adversaries. is emphasized.
The United States primarily built the canal and controlled the territory surrounding it for decades. However, the U.S. government completely transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999 after a period of joint management.
“The fees Panama charges are ludicrous, especially given the extraordinary generosity the United States has given Panama,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but simply as a token of our cooperation with Panama. If the moral and legal principles of this generous act of donation are not observed, If there is, we will demand the construction of the Panama Canal.” The entire amount must be returned to us without question. ”
The Panamanian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
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