Panama fears US military intervention

Panama fears US military intervention over Panama Canal — The Financial Times

According to The Financial Times, Panamanian authorities are expressing concern over possible plans by US President Donald Trump to use military force to restore control over the Panama Canal.

Fears in defenceless Panama

Sources cited by the publication indicate that the main cause of the anxiety is Panama's lack of its own army capable of repelling a potential attack. Since the disbanding of the country's armed forces in the 1990s, Panama has relied exclusively on its national police and international diplomatic ties to ensure its security.

Geopolitical context

The Panama Canal, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, holds strategic importance for global trade and has been the subject of years of political dispute. The handover of the canal to Panama in 1999 ended an almost century-long era of US control over this key transport hub. 

However, Trump's statement on the need to "restore American greatness" raises fears that Washington may reconsider its policy regarding the canal.