Trump warns Panama over China’s canal role

Trump warns Panama over China’s canal role
Trump warns Panama over China’s canal role

U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not think troops would be necessary in Panama but reiterated threats to take control of the Panama Canal and claims that it is being operated by Beijing.

"China is running the Panama Canal. That was not given to China, that was given to Panama - foolishly - but they violated the agreement, and we're going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen," Trump told reporters on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews.

The comments came as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino that Washington will "take measures necessary" if Panama does not immediately take steps to end what President Donald Trump sees as China's influence and control over the Panama Canal.

Mulino, after the talks with the top U.S. diplomat in Panama City, signaled he would review agreements involving China and Chinese businesses, and announced further cooperation with the U.S. on migration, but reiterated that his country's sovereignty over the world's second busiest waterway is not up for discussion.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Panama Canal after warning Panama to immediately take steps to address U.S. concerns over Chinese businesses operating ports nearby.

Rubio tored the area with Canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez and had earlier delivered a message from U.S. President Donald Trump that China's presence - through a Hong-Kong based company operating two ports near the canal's entrances - was a threat to the waterway and a violation of the U.S.-Panama treaty, the U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

After his talks with Rubio in Panama City, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino signalled he would review agreements involving China and Chinese businesses, and announced further cooperation with the U.S. on migration, but reiterated that his country's sovereignty over the world's second busiest waterway is not up for discussion.