President Donald Trump's recent comments about wanting the Panama Canal back under U.S. control have stirred nationalist sentiment and concern in Panama, the country where the critical trade route is located. Trump claimed that American ships, including the U.S. Navy, are being overcharged and mistreated, and he highlighted China's involvement in operating the canal.
In response, some Panamanians interpreted Trump's remarks as a tactic to pressure Panama for better control of migration through the Darien Gap. Others expressed unease, recalling the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama.
