What are your thoughts on Donald Trump threatening to take back the Panama Canal?

[KostasKouvalis]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/trump-panama-canal

I visited Panama earlier this year and I kind of see where he's coming from. WE built that canal together with the FRENCH, yet Panamanians have zero respect for us and treat us like shit and lessers and like they're better than us. There is a Panama Canal museum, they charge twice as much to the people who build it then they do to the locals, who wouldn't have it if it weren’t for us.

For some context, the Panama Canal zone used to belong to the United States until 1970 something. Before the canal was built, Panama was part of Colombia who didn't like the idea of a foreign power building the canal. So the US, backed by Panamanian separatists, liberated Panama from Colombia then together with the French built the canal.

I totally see where he's coming from about charging us unfairly, not showing gratitude and not maintaining it properly. I don't know the best term in English, but from my personal experiences Panamanians are what we in Polish call "chałota". A lot of them are also idiots, assholes and racists and very ungrateful, so I totally understand where Trump is coming from.

Trump also built a Trump tower and the highest skyscraper in Panama City. He no longer owns it, but he invested a lot into that city.

We also helped liberate Panama from a dictator. They really should treat us better and show us some respect.

Why do Panamanians hate Americans/White people so much, even though we modernized their country and deposed their dictator?

Updates

1 y

By the way, Panama has no military so it would be pretty easy to reclaim it😂 Only issue is, it would be in direct violation of a treaty we signed that says we're gonna protect their ass

Updates

1 y

Should the US have joint ownership/control of the canal with France?

[malarkey]

The United States of America can take the Panama Canal any time we want to maintain operations or defense of the canal. It's in the treaty. If we perceive a threat that would close or interfere with our operations or just for the general defense of the Panama Canal the American military has the right to take it over and open it and defend our interests insuring that there is no interference. As the Commander in Chief if he wants to do it, he can do it...

[malarkey]

http s://2001-2009 . state. gov/p/wha/rlnks/1193 6. htm

[KostasKouvalis]

Well there you go. In this case the perceived threat is the Chinese

[malarkey]

Yep, the Panama Canal has to remain open, neutral, secure, and accessible to the United States. Chinese influence through ownership of ports on both ends, makes it a neutrality and security issue. Thus the US military can take it over and defend it with American military personnel.

[KostasKouvalis]

So Trump would be operating within the confines of the law/treaty

[malarkey]

Yep.

[Syntosi]

Yeah, the thing USA needs right now is more instability in central and south America and another way for immigrants to illegally cross into USA.

This is a disaster waiting to happen and I am so ready for it with popcorn and everything. Granted, no sane person would ever attempt it so I dont know how long I will have to wait until a gasket blows in Trumps head.

[Anonymous]

The canal needs rebuilt, even a whole new one built. Could be worse, just look at Germany

[KostasKouvalis]

Ortega still wants to build one in Nicaragua

[Opinion Owner]

Probably should do that too. Turkey is building a new one linking the black sea and Mediterranean more suitable to bigger cargo ships. Israel wants to build one to from the red sea to the Mediterranean all through their territory
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...phic_projection%29.svg

[KostasKouvalis]

Why? They already have the Bosphorus

The Israel one is a bad idea. Do you know how many terrorists are gonna take advantage of that?

[Opinion Owner]

The bosphorus strait is very dangerous for ships, especially large ones. Think in 63 a Russian ship crashed into a waterfront mansion.
Israel has to do something as they are at the mercy of Egypt. As for terrorists we see what's happening in gazza, yemen, Lebanon and Syria. The Saudis and Egyptians largely want peace and stability

[NaultD]

The canal is really low on water so it really dosen't matter. The whole point of raising prices there is to cut down the loss of water from the fresh water basisn.

[DryGermanGuy]

It will go just as well as making Mexico pay for that imaginary wall, give or take.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Anonther moronic idea. Typical Trump.

[KostasKouvalis]

What's moronic about it?

[Astarlessnightsky]

Literally everything. But starting a war for nothing is the biggest one.

[KostasKouvalis]

What makes you think it will start a war? And start a war with WHO? Panama has no military

[seeyounexttuesday]

I like it.

[KostasKouvalis]

Me too honestly, even though it might cause a geo-political shit storm. But if he could do it without any negative reprecautions, I would be all for it

[MarjorieJ]

Good idea.