Donald Trump said the United States will not allow China to take over the Panama Canal during an event in North Dakota.
The waterway is a critical global shipping artery. Any shift in control or influence toward China would significantly alter maritime security and trade dynamics in the Western Hemisphere.
Trump spoke during the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota [1]. He said he would reassert U.S. control over the strategic waterway to prevent Chinese influence [1], [2].
The U.S. leader criticized the government of Panama for its management of the canal since regaining control from the U.S. He said the increase in transit fees was excessive [2], [3].
Trump said China is actively seeking influence over the canal to expand its global reach [1], [2]. He said the U.S. must protect its interests to ensure the waterway remains secure and accessible [1], [3].
While some reports identify Trump as the president and others as the president-elect, he delivered these remarks while attending the library dedication [1], [2]. The comments highlight a continuing tension regarding the sovereignty of the canal, and the geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China in Latin America [3].
“the United States will not allow China to take over the Panama Canal”
This rhetoric signals a potential shift toward a more interventionist U.S. policy regarding the Panama Canal Treaty. By linking Panama's internal fiscal decisions—such as transit fee hikes—to Chinese strategic influence, the U.S. administration is framing the canal not just as a commercial asset, but as a primary security frontier in the broader competition with Beijing.
