“We will take back” the Panama Canal, declares Donald Trump during his inauguration speech

The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, promised on Monday to “to resume” control of the Panama Canal, emphasizing that “the objective of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been totally violated”. “We have been very mistreated by this senseless gift that should never have been given. The promise Panama made to us was not kept.President Trump said in his inaugural address, shortly after he was sworn in.

“The purpose of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been totally violated. US ships are severely overtaxed and not treated fairly in any way, including the US Navy.he said. “And most importantly, China operates the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And we're going to take it back.”said the American president.

“The canal will continue to belong to Panama”

In the process, the Panamanian president responded to Donald Trump. “The canal belongs and will continue to belong to Panama”he said.

Shortly before taking office, Donald Trump had repeatedly stated that he wanted to take back the Panama Canal, built by the United States and inaugurated in 1914. He castigated the agreement signed in 1977 by then-president Jimmy Carter , which resulted in a transfer of control of the canal to Panama in 1999.