Trump Vows Panama Canal ‘Takeback’ in Bold Inaugural Threat

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would take back the Panama Canal as he delivered an inauguration speech in which he invoked the 19th century expansionist doctrine of “Manifest Destiny” in laying out plans for space exploration.

Doubling down on his pre-inauguration threat to reimpose U.S. control over the canal, Trump again accused Panama of breaking the promises it made for the final transfer of the strategic waterway in 1999 and of ceding its operation to China – claims that the Panamanian government has vehemently denied.

“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” Trump said.

He gave no further details on when or how he intended to do that but had previously refused to rule out possible use of military force, which drew criticism from Washington’s Latin American friends and foes alike.

Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino on Monday responded on X that his country has administered the canal responsibly for world trade, including for the U.S., and that it “is and will continue to be Panamanian.”

Trump’s reiteration of his threat about the Panama Canal as he began his second term …