President Trump has plans to reclaim the Panama Canal because he believes it will enhance our national security. The Panama Canal is also important to trade. The Panama Canal is one of the world’s busiest waterways, with the majority of the cargo heading to the US. If the canal were blocked, this would increase the cost of trade as ships would not need to move around South America increasing the time of the journey. As of March 13, he has ordered the US military to draw up options of how military presence will look in the canal. It seems like the administration is looking to partner with the panama military rather than take the canal by force but that still remains an option. Some plans for the Panama canal include ensuring that US ships have safe access to the canal and restoring US operation of the canal.
The main reason President Trump wishes to do this is to diminish China’s growing influence in the region. The United States Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, plans to visit the canal sometime this month. Another goal of this acquisition is to ensure the United States has enough presence in the region in the event of a regional conflict.
Aiming to lower China's position in the area, the Trump administration has urged the U.S. military to devise plans to raise American dominance over the Panama Canal. While a more extreme, though not likely, option includes employing U.S. troops to seize control of the canal, some plans call for closer cooperation with Panama's security forces. The government contends that China's increasing sway close to the canal could create a security threat, particularly in light of a conflict. Panama claims it runs the canal on its own, while China denies any outside meddling. Although no official decisions have been taken, officials claim the U.S. military is investigating possibilities to guarantee American access and influence over this vital trading route.
Sourced from:
