(The Guardian) US military drawing up options for 'reclaiming' Panama canal – report
The US military is looking for ways to make good on Donald Trump’s promise to take back control of the Panama canal, ranging from increasing its troop numbers in the country to seizing it by force, NBC News reports.
Taking over the canal was a surprise foreign policy plank that Trump announced after winning the presidency in November. Here’s more on what the US military is considering, from NBC: During a joint address to Congress last week, Trump said, “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal.” Since then, administration officials have not said what “reclaiming” means.
U.S. Southern Command is developing potential plans that vary from partnering more closely with the Panamanian military to the less likely option of U.S. troops seizing the Panama Canal by force, the officials said. Whether military force is used, the officials added, depends on how much the Panamanian military agrees to partner with the U.S.
The Trump administration’s goal is to increase the U.S. military presence in Panama to diminish China’s influence there, particularly access to the canal, the officials said.
Both Panama and China deny there is any foreign interference in the 50-mile canal, whose neutrality is enshrined in Panama’s Constitution. Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of using “coercion” to pressure Panamanian officials to block Chinese aid projects.
The US military is looking for ways to make good on Donald Trump’s promise to take back control of the Panama canal, ranging from increasing its troop numbers in the country to seizing it by force, NBC News reports.
Taking over the canal was a surprise foreign policy plank that Trump announced after winning the presidency in November. Here’s more on what the US military is considering, from NBC: During a joint address to Congress last week, Trump said, “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal.” Since then, administration officials have not said what “reclaiming” means.
U.S. Southern Command is developing potential plans that vary from partnering more closely with the Panamanian military to the less likely option of U.S. troops seizing the Panama Canal by force, the officials said. Whether military force is used, the officials added, depends on how much the Panamanian military agrees to partner with the U.S.
The Trump administration’s goal is to increase the U.S. military presence in Panama to diminish China’s influence there, particularly access to the canal, the officials said.
Both Panama and China deny there is any foreign interference in the 50-mile canal, whose neutrality is enshrined in Panama’s Constitution. Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of using “coercion” to pressure Panamanian officials to block Chinese aid projects.
