The Panama Canal is back in US focus as Trump’s strategy aims to prevent foreign control, raising tensions and regional uncertainties.
The Panama Canal has regained attention in US strategic discussions following the release of the new National Security Strategy by President Donald Trump, as reported by Saint Petersburg's PortNews.
While the canal was not explicitly mentioned, the strategy emphasizes preventing foreign ownership of critical assets in the region. Just days earlier, President Trump asserted that his administration had restored privileged US access to the canal.
In December 2024, Trump threatened to restore US control over the canal, reiterating this claim during his inauguration in January 2025. In response, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino stated that the canal remains under Panamanian sovereignty and operates under a status of permanent neutrality.
In April, Panama and the US Department of Defense signed a cooperation memorandum aimed at maintaining neutrality, which sparked protests in Panama City. Activists expressed concerns about the potential deployment of US troops around the canal.
Analysts from the Carnegie Endowment and the Baker Institute noted that Washington's renewed focus signifies a tougher regional stance, creating uncertainty for neighboring states. For the shipping industry, this debate compounds existing challenges, such as drought conditions that have forced carriers to reroute via the Suez Canal or Cape Horn.
