This article outlines President Trump’s push for U.S. control of the Panama Canal and the military options being considered by the Pentagon to ensure access, highlighting concerns about Chinese control and the historical context of the canal’s transfer to Panama.
The United States military has been tasked with developing options to maintain full access to the Panama Canal, as articulated by two U.S. officials in a statement to Reuters. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to “take back” the canal, emphasizing its critical geopolitical significance, although he has not disclosed specific strategies or the potential necessity of military intervention.
An official, who chose to remain anonymous, indicated that a document termed as interim national security guidance from the current administration is encouraging military evaluations on how to ensure access to the canal. The Pentagon’s most recent National Defense Strategy, published in 2022, establishes military priorities, while interim documents serve to provide more immediate policy directives, akin to Trump’s previous executive orders and public statements, pending a robust policy formulation.
The Pentagon has not yet provided remarks following inquiries regarding this directive. The White House has explicitly requested the Pentagon to devise strategies centered around the Panama Canal. Trump maintains that U.S. interests are at risk, given that China exercises control over this vital waterway. He reiterated during his inaugural address that Panama allegedly violated commitments made during the canal’s transfer in 1999.
Any aggressive action by a foreign nation to seize control of the canal would very likely breach international law. Both the United States and Panama are bound by treaties to collectively defend the canal’s neutrality and are authorized to act unilaterally as circumstances dictate. The U.S. controlled the canal’s operations since its inception in the early 1900s, but in a treaty signed during President Jimmy Carter’s administration in 1979, it was agreed that control would revert to Panama by the end of 1999.
In summary, President Trump’s administration is actively exploring military options to secure full access to the Panama Canal amidst concerns regarding Chinese influence over it. This involves the development of strategic military guidelines while reinforcing the treaty obligations between the United States and Panama. Such actions underscore the canal’s vital role in international trade and U.S. national security interests.
Original Source: www.kibrispostasi.com
