We are still days away from Donald Trump's inauguration, yet the president-elect is already addressing a critical foreign policy issue: the future of the Panama Canal and the Western Hemisphere as a whole.
In recent weeks, Trump has shown interest in securing U.S. control of the Panama Canal, along with Greenland, citing their strategic economic and defense benefits. His focus on the canal is particularly significant.
For years, I have highlighted the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean. A February 2024 report from the Atlantic Council stated: "China and Russia operate and influence in myriad ways, but the core of their influence is through covert and overt strategies to undermine the U.S. position in the region and shape foreign policy preferences in Latin America and the Caribbean."
China’s military and economic efforts in the region are part of its Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure and development plan involving nearly two dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries. Russia, a member of the initiative, also supports these goals. Through Belt and Road, China has leveraged its economic power to advance military interests in the Americas.
This influence extends to the Panama Canal. During a recent news conference, Trump stated, "China's basically taken it over. China's at both ends of the Panama Canal. China's running the Panama Canal."
U.S. military officials have echoed these concerns. General Laura Richardson, then-head of the U.S. Southern Command, noted in July 2022, “Flying along the Panama Canal, I saw state-owned enterprises from [China] on each side… These could quickly transition to military capabilities.”
Although Panamanian leaders refute Trump’s claims, the risks are clear. In 2018, Panama became the first Latin American country to join Belt and Road. China now has the world's largest navy, with 234 warships compared to the U.S. Navy's 219, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The canal, built by the U.S. over a century ago, revolutionized global trade by dramatically reducing shipping times and costs. In 1977, under President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. agreed to hand over control of the canal to Panama, with full transfer completed in 1999. Today, about 40% of U.S. container shipping passes through this vital waterway.
Trump’s proposal to reclaim the canal is part of a broader conversation about reasserting American dominance globally. The canal’s strategic importance and China’s growing influence make this an urgent issue.
Critics dismiss Trump’s proposals as unnecessary expansionism, equating them with his recent comments about Greenland. This dismissal is shortsighted. China is aggressively expanding its influence, and the canal’s control is pivotal.
History offers guidance. The Monroe Doctrine of the early 19th century declared foreign interference in the Americas as a potential hostile act. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt expanded this with the Roosevelt Corollary, allowing direct U.S. intervention in Latin American affairs to counter European aggression.
Today, we face another pivotal moment. Recognizing the challenges posed by China and the strategic importance of the Panama Canal is essential. Perhaps in the future, the "Trump Doctrine" will be remembered for countering foreign influence and preserving American interests.
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