Overview

• President Trump has publicly demanded that US military and commercial vessels receive free transit through the Panama and Suez canals.
• Trump claimed on Truth Social that the canals owe their existence to the United States and tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio with pursuing this goal.
• The US recently secured an agreement with Panama allowing limited troop stationing around the Panama Canal to bolster American influence.
• Negotiations between the US and Panama are ongoing to finalize rules for free and priority passage of US warships through the canal.
• Trump has previously suggested reclaiming control of the Panama Canal, raising tensions over sovereignty and international law.