Should Trump Take back the Panama Canal by force?

[Jetboogieman]

Trump recently talking about wanting the Panama Canal back.

Do you support him threatening Panama or actually going through with military action to re-establish the occupation of the Canal?

Trump claims they are overcharging, but if like many of his lies, that turns out to be untrue, are you willing as taxpayers to subsidize the occupation of the canal and its fees? To maybe, possibly, get lower prices at the grocery store and the gas pump?

Is this what you voted for?

Your President dissing Canada, trying to buy Greenland, take back the Panama Canal by ranting and raving in Twitter?

Is this really what you wanted?

 

[Gatsby]

I think Trump should spend less time threatening democratic allies with wars of conquest, and more time worrying about Russia and China.

 

[Rexedgar]

If he is true to form, he is trying to distract from something else. The other thing isn’t yet apparent.

 

[trixare4kids]

This is what President-elect Trump recently said. Read below. I find what he said completely reasonable but that's because I am for America first.
"President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels."

Trump threatens to try and regain control of Panama Canal

It prompts a sharp rebuke from Panama's president, who says "every square metre" of the canal belongs to his country.

www.bbc.com

 

[Hari Seldon]

Trump recently talking about wanting the Panama Canal back.

Do you support him threatening Panama or actually going through with military action to re-establish the occupation of the Canal?

Trump claims they are overcharging, but if like many of his lies, that turns out to be untrue, are you willing as taxpayers to subsidize the occupation of the canal and its fees? To maybe, possibly, get lower prices at the grocery store and the gas pump?

Is this what you voted for?

Your President dissing Canada, trying to buy Greenland, take back the Panama Canal by ranting and raving in Twitter?

Is this really what you wanted?

He should take a long walk on a short pier.

 

[Jetboogieman]

This is what President-elect Trump recently said. Read below. I find what he said completely reasonable but that's because I am for America first.
"President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels."

Trump threatens to try and regain control of Panama Canal

It prompts a sharp rebuke from Panama's president, who says "every square metre" of the canal belongs to his country.

www.bbc.com

Let’s say that Trumps not lying on this occasion.

What if they refuse?

Come on, answer the question?

Cause why would any nation willingly cede their territory to you?

What would compel Panama to do that?

 

[trixare4kids]

Let’s say that Trumps not lying on this occasion.

What if they refuse?

Come on, answer the question?

Cause why would any nation willingly cede their territory to you?

What would compel Panama to do that?

From my source, Trump quotes:

"The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair," he told a crowd of supporters in Arizona on Sunday.

"This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop," he said, referring to when he takes office next month.

"If shipping rates are not lowered, Trump said on Sunday, "we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question".

 

[Rexedgar]

This is what President-elect Trump recently said. Read below. I find what he said completely reasonable but that's because I am for America first.
"President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels."

Trump threatens to try and regain control of Panama Canal

It prompts a sharp rebuke from Panama's president, who says "every square metre" of the canal belongs to his country.

www.bbc.com

Are the Panamanians charging the US different fees than other nations?

 

[Gatsby]

"President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels."

Literally no one was upset about shipping prices through the Panama Canal, until Trump told them to be upset. You have been on this forum for over 7 years, and this thread is the first time you have ever said "Panama Canal". Try thinking for yourself.

 

[Tigerace117]

I think Trump should spend less time threatening democratic allies with wars of conquest, and more time worrying about Russia and China.

Trump explicitly justified the imperialism by raving about Russia and China.....the same way American imperialism has been “justified” over, and over, and over again for the last century.

 

[Pyrite]

This is what President-elect Trump recently said. Read below. I find what he said completely reasonable but that's because I am for America first.
"President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Panama reduce fees on the Panama Canal or return it to US control, accusing the central American country of charging "exorbitant prices" to American shipping and naval vessels."

Trump threatens to try and regain control of Panama Canal

It prompts a sharp rebuke from Panama's president, who says "every square metre" of the canal belongs to his country.

www.bbc.com

On the other hand, I'm for America's honoring the treaties it signs.

There's no provision in the Panama Canal treaties that give the USA permission to seize control if a President decides "exorbitant prices" are being charged.

 

[Gatsby]

Trump explicitly justified the imperialism by raving about Russia and China.....the same way American imperialism has been “justified” over, and over, and over again for the last century.

If Trump actually wanted to stand up to Russia and China, then he should commit to funding the defense of Ukraine and Taiwan, instead of bullying a small country thousands of miles from Russia or China.

 

[trixare4kids]

Literally no one was upset about shipping prices through the Panama Canal, until Trump told them to be upset. You have been on this forum for over 7 years, and this thread is the first time you have ever said "Panama Canal". Try thinking for yourself.

Lol, try sticking to the topic which is not me.

 

[multivita-man]

For context, Chinese-owned companies basically have operational control over ports at either end of the canal. Ignore for the moment the ridiculous shit that Trump tweets, there actually are strategic concerns that the United States should address, particularly given the fact that the U.S. built the canal and owned it for decades and that we still consider control of the canal vital to US interests.

 

[reflechissez]

Lol, try sticking to the topic which is not me.

punt

 

[watsup]

Trump recently talking about wanting the Panama Canal back.

Do you support him threatening Panama or actually going through with military action to re-establish the occupation of the Canal?

Trump claims they are overcharging, but if like many of his lies, that turns out to be untrue, are you willing as taxpayers to subsidize the occupation of the canal and its fees? To maybe, possibly, get lower prices at the grocery store and the gas pump?

Is this what you voted for?

Your President dissing Canada, trying to buy Greenland, take back the Panama Canal by ranting and raving in Twitter?

Is this really what you wanted?

Should military generals refuse illegal orders?

 

[Gatsby]

Lol, try sticking to the topic which is not me.

OK. Trump's most braindead supporters (speaking of no one in particular) tend to get pissed off about whatever Trump tells them to be pissed off about, based on whatever whim enters his head that day. And then they tend to go onto online political debate forums (speaking of none in particular) and post ridiculous nonsense regurgitating whatever Trump told them to be mad about, even if they had never given one single thought to the topic before this week.

I think that people like that, whoever they might be, should try forming their own thoughts independent of whatever Donald Trump thinks!

 

[trixare4kids]

Why would I want to argue against a commonsense approach that helps this country first?
Classic Trump strategy, in negotiating mode. He's seeking a better deal for the US.

 

[Pyrite]

For context, Chinese-owned companies basically have operational control over ports at either end of the canal. Ignore for the moment the ridiculous shit that Trump tweets, there actually are strategic concerns that the United States should address, particularly given the fact that the U.S. built the canal and owned it for decades and that we still consider control of the canal vital to US interests.

But we don't have the right to seize control just because fees have been increased.

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-12-24/a-history-of-the-panama-canal-and-why-tru

...The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway.

The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.”

The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then.

Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega....

 

[Helix]

If he does a bunch of dumb strongman military stuff, we might find out what it's like to be sanctioned to the gills and to lose the dollar as the global reserve currency. We have to hope that there are enough sane people around him to stop him from acting on his bullshit whims. Thanks, Republican voters.

 

[Pyrite]

Why would I want to argue against a commonsense approach that helps this country first?

The common-sense approach is this: honor the treaties our nation has signed. Abide by our signatures. Show that our word, our signature, is dependable.

 

[Jetboogieman]

From my source, Trump quotes:

"The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair," he told a crowd of supporters in Arizona on Sunday.

"This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop," he said, referring to when he takes office next month.

"If shipping rates are not lowered, Trump said on Sunday, "we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question".

K, I already know his bullshit line on this.

I’m asking you again Trumpist, let’s say hes not lying about the fees, what is he gonna do if they refuse?

They’re not going to willingly hand over the Canal.

So…

What is the apparent peace dove President you’ve all sold us on gonna do?

 

[Callen]

Are the Panamanians charging the US different fees than other nations?

How many American registered ships does anyone think actually go through the canal? Sure they are headed to the States or from the States but they are not American ships.

 

[reflechissez]

K, I already know his bullshit line on this.

I’m asking you again Trumpist, let’s say hes not lying about the fees, what is he gonna do if they refuse?

They’re not going to willingly hand over the Canal.

So…

What is the apparent peace dove President you’ve all sold us on gonna do?

She will continue to deflect.

 

[trixare4kids]

K, I already know his bullshit line on this.

I’m asking you again Trumpist, let’s say hes not lying about the fees, what is he gonna do if they refuse?

They’re not going to willingly hand over the Canal.

So…

What is the apparent peace dove President you’ve all sold us on gonna do?

He doesn't want the Canal back. He is trying to negotiate and reduce costs for the U.S.
I don't care if Panama is angry.