Saturday, December 28

US President-elect Trump threatened to take control of the Panama Canal recently, a territory the country lost to Panama 25 years ago.

Trump made the threat during an event called AmericaFest. The event was organized by the non-profit Turning Point USA, a conservative group focused on urging conservative policies.

Trump accused Panama of demanding too much payment for using the canal. A day earlier, he posted the same threat and accusation on the social media website Truth Social, which Trump currently owns a majority of. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino defended his country's sovereignty over the canal through a recorded statement on X, saying that Panama's independence is unchangeable.

The United States originally built the canal in 1914, and it administered the surrounding area from 1903 to 1979. A 22-year transition period took place, and Panama officially gained control over the Canal Zone in 1999. 2.5% of the global seaborne trade goes through the canal and is vital to the importation of automobiles by the US. The canal is also crucial for the transport of commercial goods from Asia and American exports of commodities like natural gas.

Trump also claimed that Chinese soldiers were secretly operating the canal and "always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in 'repair' money but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything.'" Mulino has stated that there are no Chinese soldiers present in the canal. However, a subsidiary of Hongkongese company CK Hutchinson operates 2 ports, one at the canal's Caribbean entrance and one at the canal's Pacific entrance. (Hongkongese means someone/something from Hong Kong).

The president-elect's comments suggest a shift in US diplomacy, where tactics will include threatening allies and using aggressive oratory.

Fact of the Day: Trump's foreign policy was characterized by a shift towards "America First" principles, questioning traditional alliances and trade agreements. He renegotiated NAFTA, resulting in the USMCA, took a hard stance on China with tariffs, and engaged directly with North Korea's leader. His approach was often unilateral, prioritizing American interests in a way that sometimes strained relationships with allies.

Quote of the Day: Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. (Donald Trump)

Word of the Day (Vocabulary.com): Sapience (noun, SAY-pee-ens) - Sapience is the quality of being wise, or wisdom. When voters are choosing a candidate, they usually hope for one with at least a degree of sapience.

In a Sentence: Many people believe that when we grow older, our sapience also increases as we gain experience and knowledge.