🚨 Donald Trump threatens Panama to return Canal to US,

Donald Trump threatens Panama to return Canal to US, slams China's growing grip over vital waterway
President-elect Donald Trump vowed to reassert control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates. Trump emphasised that if Panama did not adhere to moral and legal principles, the US would demand the canal's return "quickly & without question". Trump made these comments at AmericaFest event, after a similar threat against Panama in a post on Truth Social. Panamanian President Jose Mulino reaffirmed the country's sovereignty over the canal are "non-negotiable". The US built and administered the canal for decades, with accords signed in 1977 that led to the canal's return to full Panamanian control in 1999. The canal is critical to global seaborne trade, accounting for 2.5% of it and facilitating US imports and exports of goods. Trump warned he would not allow the canal to fall into "the wrong hands," implying countries like China should not manage it. It is unclear how Trump would seek to regain control over the canal, a move that would challenge Panama's sovereignty. Trump's comments signal an expected shift in US diplomacy, with him using aggressive rhetoric and threatening allies.