Trump Orders Pentagon to Explore Military Options for Panama Canal
Former President Trump has released another bombshell directive, ordering Pentagon officials to explore military options for maintaining U.S. access to the Panama Canal. The move comes amid his growing concerns about Chinese influence in the region, though Panamanian officials have flat-out rejected his claims about Chinese control over the strategic waterway.
The directive has sparked immediate pushback from Panama, which has controlled the canal since 1999 following the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Trump’s not having it though – he’s particularly irked about what he calls “excessive fees” for canal access. Because obviously, the solution to high prices is to send in the troops. The White House direction includes developing comprehensive military strategies for the region.
Send in the troops because prices are too high – classic Trump logic for solving international diplomacy with Panama.
The Pentagon’s now scrambling to provide “credible military options” as part of an Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance memo. U.S. Southern Command is eyeing everything from friendly cooperation with Panamanian forces to – wait for it – potentially taking control of the canal by force. Any military action would require securing the canal’s critical infrastructure without damage to maintain its functionality. Admiral Alvin Holsey of SOUTHCOM has already presented draft strategies for potential military engagement. Talk about escalation.
Currently, over 200 U.S. troops are stationed in Panama, mainly doing training gigs with local forces. But Trump’s directive could ramp those numbers up considerably. The Pentagon’s considering deploying additional troops, building new ports, and even establishing Army Jungle Schools. Because nothing says “we come in peace” like jungle warfare training.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently popped down to Panama to smooth things over, but it’s complicated. The canal’s neutrality is locked down by international agreements, making any cowboy moves pretty dicey without Panama’s blessing. And Panama’s not exactly rolling out the red carpet for unilateral U.S. action. President Mulino has made it clear that the canal remains part of Panama’s patrimony.
The stakes are sky-high. About 40% of U.S. container shipping depends on this waterway, making it an essential piece of America’s economic puzzle. The canal’s operations have been severely impacted by extreme drought conditions, causing significant shipping delays. But Panama’s standing firm on its sovereignty, and rightfully so. They’ve been running the show just fine since ’99.
The whole situation’s got diplomats walking on eggshells. While Trump’s pushing for military options, the reality of Latin American geopolitics demands a more nuanced approach. Because sometimes, believe it or not, sending in the Marines isn’t the answer to every international disagreement. Who knew?
