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Ever since former President Jimmy Carter handed over the canal to Panama in 1977, the U.S. has watched its operations closely. But under Mulino’s leadership, Trump saw red flags. China was not only deeply involved in the canal’s management but was also charging U.S. vessels exorbitant shipping fees.
Trump made it clear that the status quo was unacceptable. He repeatedly warned that the U.S. was prepared to retake control of the canal unless immediate changes were made. His message was blunt and unmistakable:
“Panama right now. And we’re talking about the Panama Canal. What they’ve done is terrible. They violated the agreement. They are not allowed to violate the agreement. China is running the Panama Canal. That was not given to China. That was given to Panama, foolishly. But they violated the agreement. And we’re going to take it back or something very powerful is going to happen,” President Trump declared.
Trump’s administration wasted no time in reinforcing his demands. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Panama to personally deliver the message.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed that Trump’s warning was not up for negotiation:
“Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” Bruce stated.
Faced with the reality of Trump’s unyielding stance, Mulino had little choice but to back down. In a stunning reversal, he announced that Panama would not renew its participation in Communist China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“One important thing, which is a decision I made and communicated to him, is that the 2017 memorandum of understanding on the Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, will not be renewed by my government,” Mulino declared. “We are going to study the possibility of whether it can be ended earlier or not.”
Just Released: Trump White House Collector’s Bobblehead!
This decision marked a major geopolitical win for the U.S. and a setback for China’s influence in the Western Hemisphere. The Belt and Road Initiative has been China’s way of expanding its global power, using infrastructure investments to pull nations into its sphere of influence. Allowing Beijing to hold sway over a strategic trade route like the Panama Canal was a direct threat to U.S. national security.
In just his first two weeks in office, Trump sent a powerful message to the world: America is back in charge. Whether it’s enforcing border security or countering China’s global ambitions, Trump’s no-nonsense approach is already yielding results.
His handling of both Colombia and Panama proves that when he issues an ultimatum, he means business. With more challenges on the horizon, one thing is clear—Trump is not afraid to shake up the global order to put America first.
