Could Trump seize the Panama Canal?

Shortly before Christmas, global attention turned to Central America as former and future US President Donald Trump threatened to “take back” the Panama Canal, citing the high canal tolls as his reasoning. In the following days, speculation mounted regarding the true intent behind his remarks and whether they reflected a broader geopolitical agenda.

On Tuesday during a press conference at Mar a Lago he refused to rule out the use of military force to retake the canal.

Is Panama at risk of losing control over the canal?

A short answer is that Trump does not have the means to “take back” the canal without engaging in an illegal war of aggression.

The canal zone was never US property; it was only leased. The canal is not at risk of being lost.

Instead, Trump’s statements appear to be an opening gambit in his broader strategy to regain influence in Latin America.

Some useful history

One of humanity’s most remarkable engineering feats, The Panama Canal, has connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans since 1914. The concept of constructing a canal through Panama’s isthmus can be traced back to the 16th century when Spanish conquistadors recognized its potential to transform global trade routes. However, it was not until the 19th century that concrete plans for the canal emerged, driven by technological advancements that made such an ambitious project feasible.

The first significant attempt to build the canal began in 1880, led by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, the mastermind behind the Suez Canal. Initially, the plan was for a sea-level canal, but the technical and environmental challenges proved insurmountable. Harsh climatic conditions, tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever and the daunting task of excavating