In a speech that was far from a call for unity, and much more closely resembled any of his political acts, at his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump made controversial announcements and issued a direct threat to Panama over the Canal.
While praising President William McKinley, a businessman and Republican who was assassinated in 1901, and who according to Trump paved the way for the United States to acquire control of the area and build the Panama Canal, the new president said that it “was foolishly given to Panama” and that now “it is operated by China”. He added that “we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama and now we are taking it back”.
Can the United States take control of the Panama Canal?
Trump's attacks against Panama were not part of the campaign and appeared after winning the November elections. The claim focuses on the tariffs applied to United States ships.
The treaty by which the United States handed over the Canal to Panama was signed by Jimmy Carter in 1977 and entered into force on December 31, 1999. This agreement grants the United States the right to act if the operation of the canal is threatened due to a military conflict, but not to regain control.
It is still unclear whether Trump's declaration of "recovering" the Canal will be a military action, which would violate the 1977 agreement, or if it will focus on political maneuvers with the government of José Raúl Mulino.
Hillary Clinton laughs about the name change of the Gulf of Mexico
In addition to the threat against Panama, Trump said he will send troops to the border with Mexico after declaring "a state of emergency."
Interestingly, during his speech, the new president of the United States said, "We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but by the wars we end, and, more importantly, by the wars we never get involved in."
But after that, he confirmed that he will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.” According to the story in the New York Times, at that moment Hillary Clinton burst out laughing.