In a series of posts over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump criticized the tolls that ships must pay to use the Panama Canal.

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

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Panama Canal, Canada, Greenland: Trump’s early foreign policy targets

15 hrs ago

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Harry Fogle (Video Editor)

In a series of posts over the weekend of Dec. 21, President-elect Donald Trump criticized the tolls that ships must pay to use the Panama Canal, a key waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The fees, set and collected by the Panamanian government, can range from $3,000 to $500,000 depending on a vessel’s size and cargo.

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Trump expressed frustration with the Panama government, saying in his posts that the United States is the largest user of the canal, with over 70% of transits linked to U.S. ports.

He noted that the Panama Canal was built at great cost to the United States and was handed over to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Trump argued that the canal was not meant to charge U.S. ships, military and corporations “exorbitant fees.”

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“When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else,” Trump posted on social media. “It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage.”

Trump went on to say via Truth Social, “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!”

Trump’s remarks prompted responses from Panama and Mexico. In a video message posted on X, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong.”

Without naming Trump directly, Mulino defended the tolls, emphasizing that the fees are based on the canal’s operational costs and infrastructure improvements, which Panama has funded over the years. He also stated that Panamanians are united in their sovereignty over the canal.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed solidarity with Panama and supported its right to manage the canal.

Trump appeared undeterred by these responses, doubling down on his stance that Panama should adjust its toll rates or risk losing control of the canal. He posted, “We’ll see about that!”

Trump’s rhetoric regarding the Panama Canal echoes his previous threats against Canada. If Canada does not do more to secure its border, Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on goods coming from the country.

When Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that such a move could cripple the Canadian economy, Trump joked that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state. He also posted a satirical image mocking the idea of Canada joining the U.S.

In a similar vein, Trump posted an AI-generated image of a U.S. flag in the Panama Canal with the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”

Meanwhile, Trump again made comments over the weekend about the U.S. purchasing Greenland following his nomination of an ambassador to Denmark.

In a Truth Social post, Trump argued that the United States must control Greenland for national security and global stability.

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded, stating, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.”

Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland is not new. During his first term, he actively pursued the idea, even initiating diplomatic talks with Denmark about a potential purchase. When Denmark rejected the proposal, Trump canceled a planned visit, escalating tensions with the Danish government.

As Trump prepares to return to the White House in less than a month, his foreign policy positions are already drawing global attention

Tags: Canada, Claudia Sheinbaum, Denmark, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Mexico, Panama

IS TRUMP LOOKING TO ANNEX CANADA, RECLAIM THE PANAMA CANAL, AND BUY GREENLAND?

HERE’S SOME CONTEXT TO THE CLAIMS.

OVER THE WEEKEND – TRUMP POSTED ON TRUTH SOCIAL – CRITICIZING THE TOLLS SHIPS HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO USE THE PANAMA CANAL – CONNECTING THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS.

THOSE FEES – SET AND COLLECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PANAMA – CAN RANGE FROM THREE THOUSAND TO 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS – DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND CARGO OF A VESSEL.

TRUMP – EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION WITH THE PANAMA GOVERNMENT.

“The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports. Considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago, and was built at HUGE cost to the United States in lives and treasure…”

“When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage.”

If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!

IT WAS THIS SERIES OF POSTS THAT LED TO HEADLINES – AND A RESPONSE FROM PANAMA AND MEXICO.

IN A VIDEO MESSAGE ON X – THE PANAMA PRESIDENT SAID “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” TO THE COUNTRY.

without naming Trump directly, he defended Panama’s price points – noting Panama has expanded the canal over the years to accommodate more traffic and improve its infrastructure, with fee increases helping fund these projects.

MEXICO’S PRESIDENT ALSO SPOKE FOLLOWING TRUMP’S POSTS – SAYING MEXICO IS IN SOLIDARITY WITH PANAMA.

TRUMP SEEMINGLY ISN’T BACKING DOWN FROM HIS STANCE – THAT PANAMA NEEDS TO ADJUST TOLL PRICES OR LOSE THE CANAL – SAYING “WE’LL SEE ABOUT THAT!”

TRUMP’S RHETORIC OVER THE PANAMA CANAL IS SIMILAR TO HIS TARIFF THREATS TO CANADA.

IF CANADA DOESN’T DO MORE TO SECURE ITS BORDER – TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SLAP A 25% TARIFF ON GOODS COMING FROM THE COUNTRY.

WHEN CANADA’S PRIME MINISTER SAID IT WOULD CRIPPLE CANADA – TRUMP JOKED CANADA COULD BECOME THE 51ST STATE OF THE U.S.

POSTING THIS FAKE IMAGE – MOCKING CANADA BECOMING A STATE.

AND IN A SIMILAR TROLL –

TRUMP POSTED THIS AI GENERATED IMAGE OF A U.S. FLAG IN THE PANAMA CANAL – SAYING “WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES CANAL!”

OVER THE WEEKEND – TRUMP EYED GREENLAND AFTER ANNOUNCING HIS NOMINATION FOR US AMBASSADOR TO DENMARK.

SAYING IN TRUTH SOCIAL POST “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

AND IN RESPONSE –

GREENLAND’S PRIME MINISTER SAID “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.”

TRUMP PURSUED PURCHASING GREENLAND IN HIS FIRST TERM TOO.

EVEN INITIATING DIPLOMATIC TALKS WITH DENMARK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PURCHASE FOR WHAT HE SAW HAS A “STRATEGIC ACQUISITION.”

WHEN THE DANISH GOVERNMENT REJECTED THE IDEA – TRUMP CANCELED A PLANNED VISIT – ESCALATING TENSIONS OVER THE ISSUE.

WHILE TRUMP IS SET TO TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE IN LESS THAN A MONTH –

HIS FOREIGN POLICY AND STRATEGY ALREADY HAS WORLD LEADERS ON ALERT.

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