Trump wants to control the Panama Canal – level 1

Trump wants to control the Panama Canal

07-01-2025 15:00

Panama is celebrating 25 years of owning the Panama Canal. On December 31, 1999, the US give it back to Panama.

President Trump now says the US should take it back. But Panama says it will keep the canal forever. The canal joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It helps ships move faster. The US builds it in 1914. France fails to build the canal earlier. Many workers get sick and die.

Trump says Panama wants too much money for US ships and that China has control. But there is no information about this. Panama says the canal is theirs. Rules only let the US act if the canal is in trouble. The canal is very important for trade all over the world but 70% of all the ships do business with the US.

Difficult words: canal (a thin stretch of water for ships to travel along), act (to do something), trade (business activity).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

What is President Trump's argument for the US taking back the Panama Canal and how does Panama respond to this?

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