President Trump Orders Military to “Draw Up Options” To Take Back Panama Canal

President Trump has reportedly asked the military to begin making plans to retake the Panama Canal!

According to an original report from NBC News, U.S. officials say that President Trump told military leaders to “draw up options” for our nation to regain control of the Panama Canal.

This will either be done through a close partnership with Panamanian security forces or potentially reclaiming the canal by force.

Which way it goes depends on whether Panama is willing to comply with President Trump’s demands.

Take a look:

EXCLUSIVE: The Trump White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama to achieve President Trump’s goal of “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, officials say. https://t.co/jaWHh9Wlzh

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 13, 2025

Trump has reportedly asked the U.S. military to draw plans to retake the Panama Canal using force if the Panamanian military does not cooperate. Trump’s goal is to increase the U.S. military presence in Panama to diminish China’s influence there, particularly access to the… pic.twitter.com/MdXl5l7hMP

— JV3MJD (@JV3MJD) March 13, 2025

Per NBC News:

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.

The Trump administration’s goal is to increase the U.S. military presence in Panama to diminish China’s influence there, particularly access to the canal, the officials said.

Panama and China deny there is any foreign interference in the 50-mile canal, whose neutrality is enshrined in Panama’s Constitution. Chinese officials have accused the United States of using “coercion” to pressure Panamanian officials to block Chinese aid projects.

The U.S. officials told NBC News that the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Adm. Alvin Holsey, presented draft strategies to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week. Hegseth is expected to visit Panama next month.

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The officials cautioned that a U.S. invasion of Panama is unlikely and would come under serious consideration only if a larger American military presence in Panama does not achieve Trump’s goal of reclaiming the waterway, the officials said.

Daily Wire added:

NBC News reported that United States Southern Command is spearheading the effort, which includes everything from partnering with Panamanian security forces to the United States military retaking the canal by force.

Officials said that whether the United States military is used depends solely on whether Panama complies with U.S. demands.

Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of United States Southern Command, “presented draft strategies to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week,” the report said.

Officials said that the United States taking over Panama was not out of the question, but would likely only happen if an increased U.S. military presence in Panama did not achieve Trump’s goal of taking back the canal that the United States paid for and built.

Trump said that the United States would be “reclaiming” the canal and efforts are already underway to do so with the goal being to “further enhance our national security.”

“It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely,” Trump said during his address to Congress last week. “We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”

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