During his inaugural address in January, President Trump proclaimed that “China is operating the Panama Canal” and promised that the United States would be “taking it back.” Shortly after his confirmation as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio traveled to Panama to meet with its president, José Raúl Mulino.
After the trip, the State Department’s official X account announced that U.S. warships would now be allowed to use the canal for free. Mulino quickly denied the report and said that there had been no new agreement between the United States and Panama to alter the usual fee structure for transiting ships. Rubio’s office noted that he pressed Mulino to reduce Chinese influence on the canal or face possible U.S. action. Mulino countered by publicly saying that the United States had not threatened to upend the treaty that underlies Panama’s operation of the canal.
For now, it appears that the Trump administration has shifted attention to other foreign policy issues. However, this chaotic episode is valuable in that it demonstrates a desire for imperialism under the guise of protecting America’s core security interests.
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