The White House has instructed the U.S. military to draft options for increasing the presence of troops in Panama as the Trump administration continues to pursue its goal of "reclaiming" the Panama Canal, NBC News reported on Thursday.
In his address before the U.S. Congress on March 4, Trump announced that his administration would "recover the Panama Canal" and claimed efforts to do so had already begun.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded the following day, calling Trump's assertions "a new affront to our dignity," and reaffirming Panama's sovereignty over the canal. "The Panama Canal is not in the process of being recovered, nor has this been discussed in any of our conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio or any other U.S. official," Mulino said.
-
Trump's Jab at Marco Rubio During Speech Raises Eyebrows: 'Seems More Like A Threat Than a Joke'
-
House Democrats Introduce Bill to Stop Trump From Invading Panama, Canada and Greenland
-
Panama's Government Releases Dozens of U.S. Deportees From Jungle Camp After Allegations of Human Rights Violations
While the administration has not clarified what "reclaiming" entails, the U.S. Southern Command is reportedly preparing various strategies, including closer cooperation with the Panamanian military and, in an unlikely scenario, the use of military force to seize the canal.
The Trump administration claims its objective is countering China's growing influence in Panama and its access to the canal, officials told NBC News. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in February, urging Mulino's government to reduce China's presence in the canal and warning of potential U.S. action under the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.
Weeks later, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison sold its 90% stake in Panama Ports Company, which operates ports on both ends of the canal, to a consortium including BlackRock and Global Infrastructure Partners, a move which analysts considered a win for President Trump.
However, NBC reports that Trump's goal goes beyond that as he wishes to increase the U.S. military presence in Panama in case of a potential war:
"One other focus of the ongoing planning is potentially positioning U.S. military forces near Panama in the event of a regional war or a threat to the U.S. In that scenario, the U.S. military would aim to secure the Panama Canal and eliminate China's access to the critical waterway. American officials cautioned that the U.S. would only block Chinese transit through the canal in the event of war"
The administration's rhetoric has prompted political pushback in Washington. House Democrats introduced a bill on Tuesday H.R. to prohibit the use of military funds for operations to seize territory from Panama, Canada, and Greenland. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Seth Magaziner, stated, "My bill sends a message to President Trump— don't engage in military conquests without our consent."
The U.S. built the Panama Canal in the early 20th century and transferred control to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
