Minutes after being sworn in for his second term on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to reclaim the Panama Canal. In his inauguration speech, the Republican leader referenced the 19th-century expansionist doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" while also outlining plans for space exploration.

Trump reiterated his pre-inauguration vow to reassert U.S. control over the canal, accusing Panama of failing to uphold agreements made during the 1999 transfer of the waterway and alleging that its operations had fallen under Chinese influence—claims that Panama has strongly denied. "We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back," Trump declared.

While he provided no specifics on the timeline or method for this action, Trump has previously refused to rule out the use of military force, a stance that has drawn criticism from both allies and adversaries across Latin America.

Panama's President, Jose Raul Mulino, responded on X, asserting that Panama has responsibly managed the canal for global trade, including U.S. interests. He added, "The canal is and will remain Panamanian."

Trump’s renewed threat regarding the Panama Canal marks one of his boldest statements yet on territorial expansion, a theme he has emphasized in recent weeks. Before his inauguration, Trump also expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, describing the Danish territory as critical to U.S. national security, and even speculated about integrating Canada as a U.S. state.