Panama Canal Reclamation

Reclaiming Panama Canal

The White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options to increase the American troop presence in Panama to achieve President Donald Trump’s goal of “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning.

In his joint address to Congress last week, Trump said that “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal.” Since then, administration officials have not said what “reclaiming” means.

U.S. Southern Command is developing potential plans from partnering more closely with Panamanian security forces to the less likely option of U.S. troops’ seizing the Panama Canal by force, the officials said.

Whether military force is used, the officials added, depends on how much Panamanian security forces agree to partner with the United States.

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