President-elect Donald Trump on 22 December threatened to reassert the United States’ control over the Panama Canal, accusing the Central American nation’s authorities of charging excessive fees for its passage and expressing fears that the critical trade route could fall into China’s hands.

Trump’s vowed to “take back control” over the Panama Canal during a rally at AmericaFest - an annual event organized by Turning Point, a conservative group aligned with him. He later posted an image on Truth Social featuring an American flag flying over a narrow waterway, accompanied by the caption: "Welcome to the United States Canal!"

His aggressive remarks prompted sharp comments from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, who said that Panama's independence was non-negotiable and that China had no influence on the canal's administration. He also defended the fees Panama charged for passage, saying they were not set arbitrarily.

Trump later responded to Mulino's comments with a defiant message: "We'll see about that!"

Land hungry president