Trump has asked U.S. military to develop options for the Panama Canal

Military ships can and do transit through the Panama canal. You are completely wrong but please keep doubling down.

Supply ships also transit through the canal.

The Panama canal is one of, if not the, most important strategic points in the world.

 

According to google:

• Frequency of Transit:
  Since 1998, US warships, including submarines, have transited the Panama Canal 994 times.

• Priority Rights:
  The Navy has priority rights for transit through the canal, allowing them to move to the front of the line for passages.

Rocket River

 

US military ships rarely pass through and carriers are too large to pass through. It's why the US maintains separate fleets.

Regardless, the idea that it needs to be "secured" is ridiculous. Secured from what country exactly? Who is a threat to stop US interests from using the canal outside the Panamanian gov't itself?

 

I don't know that the Panama canal needs to be secured right now. Nor have I stated that.

You people really love just making up **** for other people to have said.

"Let me concoct a straw man argument, attribute it to you and hammer you on it"

There need to be PLANS in place to secure the canal. I think most everyone, besides you maybe, agrees on that. The Panama canal is one of, if not the, most important geostrategic points on the planet and is proximately located to the United States falling well within the purview of the Monroe Doctrine.

 

You don't think it's puzzling the the military nor any president in the last 50 years has felt it necessary for the military to create PLANS to retake the canal until now?

 

No. I don't find it puzzling. I imagine most every administration has had plans to secure the canal based on a variety of contingencies.

There's nothing wrong with the U.S. military having plans for pretty much any contingency.

I would find it disturbing if we didn't have plans that were regularly updated concerning securing the canal.

 

Weird formatting because some folks can't look it up themselves.

The concerns about protecting access to the Panama Canal do have strategic justification, even with limited direct military usage. Here's why these considerations make strategic sense:

## Strategic Justifications for Military Concerns

**Economic and Supply Chain Security**
- While military vessels represent a small percentage of canal traffic, approximately 40% of all U.S. container traffic traverses the canal
- The canal handles about $270 billion worth of cargo annually, with the U.S. being the origin or destination for roughly 74% of canal transits
- Any disruption would severely impact U.S. economic interests and supply chains

**Military Mobility Requirements**
- Despite limited routine military use, in conflict scenarios the canal becomes a critical chokepoint for rapid military deployment
- The ability to quickly move naval assets between the Atlantic and Pacific without circumnavigating South America remains strategically vital
- Military planners must consider worst-case scenarios where access is denied during times of need

**Chinese Influence Concerns**
- China has invested heavily in Panama's infrastructure through its Belt and Road Initiative
- Chinese companies operate key port facilities at both ends of the canal
- These investments could potentially give China leverage over canal operations during a crisis

**Historical Context**
- The U.S. originally built the canal (completed 1914) and maintained control until 1999
- The canal's strategic importance has been a cornerstone of U.S. military planning for over a century
- The 1977 Neutrality Treaty guarantees U.S. vessels priority passage during emergencies

While current military usage is limited, the strategic importance of ensuring continued access justifies maintaining contingency plans for the canal's security. The concern isn't about routine military transits but rather preserving access during potential future conflicts when the canal's availability could become critical for national security.

 

Any Panama Canal plans up until this administration were sure to be focused on defending the canal zone, not forcibly taking it. That's a big difference that inexplicably (or not) escapes some.

 

I said this, and then barely a few days later, these devils go and refer to a black recipient’s MOH as a DEI medal

no black person should be signing up to serve this country

They go out of their way to denigrate and attack black people 24/7 like it’s their life mission. They have even been talking about pardoning Derek Chauvin. What did we ever even do to these devils to be constantly treated like this?

 

There are no plans from any other administration to invade panama to take the canal.

 

How could you possibly know that?

 

I mean, I just can make totally unsubstantiated claims as assert them as fact as well.

The United States should have plans to secure the canal if they need to from the Panamanian government or a foreign power.

Perfectly reasonable to have plans for such contingencies.

 

None of us know their actual new options. What we do know is that the military prepares contingencies for almost anything. What's new here is that he is openly pushing the idea of reclaiming the canal because he incorrectly believes China controls it. Your insistence that this is just contingency planning ignores a likely fact (we already have contingencies) and a new fact (he wants to reclaim the canal because he believes China controls it).

 

A plan is merely a plan.

You're ignoring the fact nothing has actually happened. You're just enjoying displaying performative outrage over nothing.

Let me know when operation starts and I'll consider the justifications then.

 

Not outrage nor enjoyment, but concern that the POTUS might take military action based on bad beliefs.

Many tariffs based on bad beliefs have happened under this POTUS, which is why I am concerned that his bad beliefs could drive actions.

Agree, nothing has happened yet, and hopefully, nothing does based on bad beliefs.

 

Trump says a lot of things.

Disingenuous people love to take him literally even though they know he is largely hyperbolic.

Happy to analyze the actions on their merits.

The US should have a close eye on the canal, Chinas role in the region and plans for any number of contingencies.

 

Very hyperbolic, but I think he's actually pretty consistent and does have a vision. Some of my thoughts on that are here.

 

Because the US held military based until 1999 when they left and there are 0 threats to the canal and American shipping so why would they need a plan? Who would seize it?

Secondly, the US invaded Panama to dispose of a dictator, ironically - someone who would be a hero in today's MAGA reality.

You don't need to draw up a plan to invade Panama unless you are intending to do it. No one makes a plan and then just lets it sit in the oven on the warm setting for 5 years as a contingency. It's not freaking China dude.

 

A Panamanian administration hostile to the United States, a foreign power or a combination of the two.

The Panama Canal is one of, if not the, most vital geostrategic points in the world.

Of course the United States Military should have plans to secure it if necessary. You know you're allowed to formulate a plan without necessarily acting on it right?

Totally irrelevant to the conversation... just rambling gibberish ... conservatives bad...

Nonsense.

Militaries draw up plans all the time that are never carried out.

We never went to war with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. You think the United States military had no plans in case that were to occur?

No plans based on any number of potential hostile acts by the Soviets?

What a dope.