Trump reacts strongly to Panamanian President's refusal to return the canal

According to RIA Novosti on December 23, on the social network Truth Social, US President-elect Donald Trump responded to Panamanian leader Jose Raul Mulino's refusal to return the Panama Canal to the US.
“We will see what happens!” – Mr. Trump wrote.

Earlier, on December 22, the US President-elect said that he would request the return of the Panama Canal to the US because the tariffs for traveling through it were “too high”. Mr. Trump emphasized that the Panama Canal is very important for US trade, as well as for the deployment of US Navy operations in the Atlantic and Pacific. In addition, the US is the country that uses the canal the most, accounting for more than 72% of the total shipping traffic through it.

At the same time, the United States was also the country that devoted most of its resources to building the canal and managing the surrounding territory for decades.

Commenting on Trump’s statement, Panamanian President Mulino responded that the canal belongs to Panama and that the country’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Mulino also added that the tariffs are not “a passing fad. They are created in a public and broad-based manner, taking into account market conditions, international competition, operating costs, and the need for maintenance and modernization of the transoceanic waterway.”

The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway in Panama, Central America, crossing the Isthmus of Panama at its lowest point and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. One of the most important shipping routes of international importance.

Construction of the Panama Canal began in 1904 under President Teddy Roosevelt. At the time, it was considered one of the most important achievements of American foreign policy.

The canal became neutral in 1977, following the signing of treaties between US President Jimmy Carter and the then de facto leader of Panama, Omar Torrijos. As a result, Panama gained control of the transoceanic route, ensuring safe transit for ships of all nations in both peacetime and wartime.

Not only the Panama Canal, but also on Truth Social, US President-elect Donald Trump called the US ownership of Greenland (Denmark) "absolutely necessary, for national security and freedom around the world". Therefore, the person he nominated as ambassador to Denmark - former US ambassador to Sweden and businessman Ken Howery, "will do a good job representing US interests".