Panama has extended an offer for U.S. Navy vessels to pass through the Panama Canal at no cost, as reported by The Daily Wire, citing an unnamed senior official in the Trump administration. This gesture would potentially save the U.S. between $2.5 million and $3 million annually. However, The National News Desk (TNND) was unable to independently verify the offer.
On Sunday, Trump addressed reporters at Joint Base Andrews, stating that China now has significant control over the Panama Canal and declared that “we’re gonna take it back, or something very powerful’s going to happen.” He indicated that military intervention might not be necessary but expressed concern over the “terrible” actions Panama has taken regarding national security in the region.
Trump did not elaborate on his statement. “And, you know, 70% of the signage on the Panama Canal was written in Chinese. That’s not right,” Trump remarked. “So, it wasn’t meant for China.”
He further stated that China “owns” the canal. “That’s not gonna happen. We’re not gonna let that happen,” Trump asserted. “We have national security concerns, and they wouldn’t let it happen either.” Despite these claims, Panama remains in control of the waterway.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Panama Canal on Sunday, as noted by the canal’s authority in a press release. The statement emphasized Panama’s intent to work with the U.S. Navy in prioritizing the passage of U.S. naval ships through the canal.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Tammy Bruce, issued her own statement, explaining that Rubio informed Panama President José Raúl Mulino of Trump’s “preliminary determination” regarding the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party’s influence over the canal. According to Bruce, Rubio also argued that this influence breaches a treaty that guarantees the canal’s neutrality.
“Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” Bruce’s release concluded.
{Matzav.com}
