Panama Canal: America’s newly elected President Donald Trump has given a big statement regarding the Panama Canal. He said that American ships passing through Panama are being unfairly charged fees, which suggests that America should take back control, but after Trump’s statement, now the President of Panama has reacted.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected Trump’s claims, saying that the fees charged by ships passing through Panama are determined by experts. Mulino said that every part of the canal belongs to Panama and it will remain ours.
What did Trump say?
Trump said that our navy and businessmen have been treated very unfairly. The fees charged by Panama are ridiculous. Such cases should be stopped immediately. If the Panama Canal is not managed in a safe, efficient and reliable manner, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in its entirety. Trump said that if both moral and legal principles are followed, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States as soon as possible.
What is the importance of Panama?
The Panama Canal is very important in the geopolitics of the whole world. This 82 km long canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is said that six percent of the world’s maritime trade takes place through this canal. This canal is very important for America. 14 percent of America’s trade goes through the Panama Canal. A large number of imports and exports from the US as well as South American countries take place through the Panama Canal. If the Caribbean country is shipping goods from Asia, the ship passes through the Panama Canal. The occupation of the Panama Canal threatens to disrupt supply chains around the world.
The construction of the Panama Canal was started by France in 1881, but in 1904 the United States took over the construction of the canal and in 1914 the construction of the canal was completed by the United States. After that the United States remained in control of the Panama Canal, but in the year 1999 the United States handed over control of the Panama Canal to the Government of Panama. It is now managed by the Panama Canal Authority.
