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Business and personal
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Opinion polls Legal affairs
Impeachments   | ||
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| Colonialism |
| Militarism |
| Foreign policy |
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| Concepts |
President of the United StatesDonald Trump has proposed various plans and ideas that would expand theUnited States' political influence and territory.[1] In his secondinaugural address, Trump directly referenced potential territorial expansion, and became the first U.S. president to use the phrasemanifest destiny during an inaugural address.[2][3] Thelast territory acquired by the United States came in 1947 with the acquisition of theNorthern Mariana Islands,Caroline, andMarshall Islands. Of these islands, only the Northern Mariana Islands would become aU.S. territory, with the others becoming independent in the 1980s and 1990s underCompacts of Free Association.
Trump first said he wanted to annexGreenland in 2019, during his first term. Since being elected to a second term in 2024, Trump has also shown a desire to annexCanada and thePanama Canal. He has also suggestedinvading Venezuela, annexingMexico,taking over the Gaza Strip, and influencing the direction of theCatholic Church. Trump's determination to treat theWestern Hemisphere as a U.S.sphere of influence has been characterized as a revival of theMonroe Doctrine.[4][5]
According to a February 2025 poll byYouGov, only 4% of Americans support American expansion if it requires military force, 33% of Americans support expansion without the use of military or economic force, and 48% of Americans oppose expansion altogether.[6]
Trump has stated intentions to impose a 25% tariff on all goods fromCanada in an effort for theCanadian government to stop what in his view is an illegal migration crisis and drug crisis on theCanada–United States border.[7] Canadian officials have responded by threatening the United States with retaliatory tariffs and a shutdown of the flow of Canadian energy into theNorthern United States.[8] Trump has repeatedly declared a desire to annex Canada into the United States as its51st state, rebutting others' insistence that he must be joking.[9][10] Trump has at times tied annexation totariff relief.[11][12][13][14][15]
While Ontario and Quebec strongly reject annexation by the United States, polls showAlbertans are more receptive to the idea, seeing their culture as more akin to that ofMontana and the United States, than that of liberalEastern Canada.[16] A January 2025 poll by theAngus Reid Institute indicated that approximately 18% of respondents in Alberta favored Trump's annexation proposal, the highest of any province in Canada.[17]
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In December 2024, Trump stated a further proposal for the United States to purchaseGreenland fromDenmark, describing ownership and control of the island as "an absolute necessity" for national security purposes. This builds upon a prior offer from Trump to buy Greenland during his first term, which the Danish Realm refused, causing him to cancel his August 2019 visit to Denmark.[18] On January 7, 2025, Trump's sonDonald Trump Jr. visited Greenland's capital cityNuuk alongsideCharlie Kirk to hand outMAGA hats.[19] At a press conference the following day, Trump refused to rule out military or economic force in order to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal.[20] However, he did rule out military force in taking over Canada.[20] On January 12, then-Vice President-electJD Vance repeatedly stated that controlling Greenland is critical for U.S. national security and said there's "a deal to be made in Greenland".[21] Asked on January 14 by SenatorMazie Hirono about the potential use of military force to integrate Greenland into the United States,Pete Hegseth stated he would not provide details in a public forum.[22] On January 14, the Trump-affiliatedNelk Boys also visited Nuuk, handing outdollar bills to locals.[23]
On January 16, the CEOs of major Danish companiesNovo Nordisk,Vestas andCarlsberg among others were assembled for a crisis meeting in theMinistry of State to discuss the situation.[24][25] On the subsequent day, former chief executiveFriis Arne Petersen in the DanishMinistry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as "historically unheard of", whileNoa Redington, special adviser to former prime ministerHelle Thorning-Schmidt, compared the international pressure on Denmark to that during the 2005Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[26] Political commentatorHenrik Qvortrup stated on the 17th that a mention of Greenland during Trump's inaugural address on January 20 would confirm Trump's seriousness, making the situation one of Denmark's largest international crises sinceWorld War II.[27]
On February 6, 2025, a poll conducted byUSA Today between January 7, 2025, and January 10, 2025, was released which showed that only 11% of Americans said that Trump should purchase or annex Greenland. 29% of Americans said that they thought that acquiring Greenland was a good but unrealistic idea, and 53% of Americans said that they don't support the idea of annexing Greenland.[28][29]
On May 4, 2025, during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, when asked about the potential use of military force to annex Greenland, Trump replied, "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we'll take care of, and we'll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security."[30]
| Make Greenland Great Again Act | |
|---|---|
| United States House of Representatives | |
| |
| Citation | H.R. 361 |
| Territorial extent | United States |
| Introduced by | Andy Ogles |
| Committee responsible | United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Keywords | |
| U.S. territorial sovereignty | |
| Status: Pending | |
On January 13, 2025, legislation was introduced in theU.S. House of Representatives by Rep.Andy Ogles to authorize the United States Government to acquire Greenland on behalf of the U.S., granting to Congress a 60-day review period prior to integration of Greenlandic territory into the United States.[31] As of the date of introduction, the bill had 12 co-sponsors and had been referred to theUnited States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for review.[31]
On January 26, 2025, formerMinister for GreenlandTom Høyem stated that the 1917 agreement with theUnited Kingdom still stood, giving them theright of first refusal in the event of any sale of the islands.[20]
| Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 | |
|---|---|
| United States House of Representatives | |
| |
| Citation | H.R. 1161 |
| Territorial extent | United States |
| Introduced by | Buddy Carter |
| Committee responsible | United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs andUnited States House Committee on Natural Resources[33] |
| Keywords | |
| U.S. territorial sovereignty | |
| Status: Pending | |
On February 10, 2025, Republican representativeBuddy Carter introduced legislation which would rename Greenland to "Red, White, and Blueland" and allow US President Donald Trump to "purchase or otherwise acquire" Greenland.[34][35][36] Carter further stated, "When our Negotiator-in-Chief signs this historic agreement, we will proudly welcome the people of what is now Greenland to join the freest nation in history. President Trump has rightly identified this purchase as a national security priority."[37] The legislation gives the office of theSecretary of the Interior six months after its passage to ensure that federal documents are updated to reflect the name change.[36]
In early May 2025, the Danish government summoned theUnited States Ambassador to Denmark in response to aWall Street Journal report that officials working forDirector of National IntelligenceTulsi Gabbard had instructed the heads of theCentral Intelligence Agency,National Security Agency andDefense Intelligence Agency to collect intelligence on Greenland's independence movement and the attitudes toward American resource extraction efforts in the territory.[38]
In late August 2025, the Danish government again summoned the US ambassador after at least three American citizens, allegedly with ties to Trump,[39] were reported attempting covert operations tofoment secessionism.DR reported that one American was attempting to gather a list of Greenlanders to recruit for a secessionist movement.[40]
In February 2025, amid a health crisis involvingPope Francis, it was reported that, according toVatican politics observers, theWhite House was looking for someone "less confrontational" and would have no trouble influencing a possibleconclave.[41] After a brief visit from Vice PresidentJD Vance on April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died hours later. Following thefuneral of Pope Francis, Trump said that he would "like to be pope," which would be his "number one choice," when asked by a reporter who he would like to see succeed Pope Francis. Trump's aspiration garnered support from Republican senators.[42][43] A few days later, he shared anAI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire, which many criticized as disrespectful and mocking of the Pope's death.[44]
Trump has alleged that the United States is subsidizingMexico and that this suggests that Mexico should become a state. In an interview withNBC, Trump said, "We're subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion. We shouldn't be — why are we subsidizing these countries? If we're going to subsidize them, let them become a state."[45]
Trump also proposed renaming theGulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America". Trump first proposed the idea in a news conference, and he mentioned it in his inaugural address.[46] Upon taking office on January 20, Trump signed anexecutive order renaming the portion of the gulf from the U.S. shoreline to "the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba" as the "Gulf of America" in federal usage.[47][48]
Trump has proposed resettling Palestinians in theGaza Strip elsewhere in places like neighboringEgypt andJordan, with the United States taking it over and rebuilding it, following theGaza war. Trump described ambitions to make Gaza "the Riviera of the Middle East," in which "the world's people" would live.[49][50] According to reports, the United States was interested in resettling Gazans to eitherSyria,Sudan,Morocco, or the separatist Somali regions ofPuntland andSomaliland.[51][52] In May 2025, reports emerged that the Trump administration was working on a plan to permanently relocate 1 million Gazans toLibya, while offering the release of around $30 billion in funds frozen by the U.S. since thetoppling of the regime ofMuammar Gaddafi in exchange for Libyan authorities agreeing to the deal.[53][54]
On February 21, 2025, after opposition fromArab states, Trump said he would "recommend" but not enforce his plan for the US takeover of Gaza and the resettlement of the Palestinian population.[55][56] On May 15, 2025, duringhis presidential visit toQatar, Trump reiterated his desire for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and "make it a freedom zone."[57]
On February 26, 2025, Trump posted an AI video onTruth Social. The video opens on war-torn images of Gaza before transitioning to videos of a beachfront resort, including shots ofElon Musk eating and dancing, bearded belly dancers performing and Trump and Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu—both shirtless—drinking poolside.[58] The creators of the video said they did not know how Trump obtained the video and criticized Trump for posting the video without credit or permission, adding that they did not support Trump's "propaganda machine."[59]
In December 2024, Trump demanded thatPanama return control of thePanama Canal to the United States due to 'excessive rates' being charged for American passage.[60] If the United States were to take control of the Panama Canal, it would mark the first time the United States controlled Panamanian territory since the 1989United States invasion of Panama.[61]
On January 7, 2025, Trump stated that he had not ruled out the use of military to take control of the Panama Canal.[62] The next day on January 8, 2025, Deputy Pentagon Press SecretarySabrina Singh declined to answer a reporter's question regarding the potential use of military force to annex the Panama Canal.[63] On January 14, 2025, presumptive nominee for the United States Secretary of DefensePete Hegseth declined to answer a question by SenatorMazie Hirono about the potential use of military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland and if he would comply with an order to do so.[64]
In his first official trip abroad,Secretary of StateMarco Rubio traveled to Panama to push to reclaim the Panama Canal for the United States.[65][66]
On January 28, 2025, theUnited States Senate held a hearing on the Panama Canal.[67][68] During the hearing, a bipartisan group of senators claimed China maintains influence over the Panama Canal, withDemocratic SenatorMaria Cantwell saying: "I am concerned about the Chinese-owned ports in Panama and their proximity to the Canal."[69] TheHong Kong-based company manages two of the canal's five ports,[70] andCCP General SecretaryXi Jinping integrated the canal into hisBelt and Road Initiative.[71]
On February 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he "vowed" to "take back" the Panama Canal and warned of a "powerful US action" saying, "China is running the Panama Canal that was not given to China, that was given to Panama foolishly, but they violated the agreement, and we're going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen".[72][73]
On March 5, 2025, the American investment companyBlackRock announced that a consortium, including alsoGlobal Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, would buyCK Hutchison's 80% holding inHutchison Port Holdings, which owns ports at either end of the canal.[74] According to theNew York Times, the Hong Kong-basedLi family felt "under political pressure to exit the ports business"; discussions with BlackRock about the Panama Canal had begun only a few weeks prior, coinciding with the beginning of theTrump administration.[75][76]
Trump told Congress in March 2025 that his "administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal."[77] Also that month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the Trump administration to "immediately" present "credible military options to ensure fair and unfettered US military and commercial access to the Panama Canal".[78]
On April 9, 2025, during a visit to Panama, United States Secretary of DefensePete Hegseth suggested that the United States could "revive" military bases or naval air stations in Panama by stationing American soldiers in them.[79][80]
On April 10, 2025, a joint deal was signed between the United States and Panama which would allow American troops to be deployed to Panama as long as the Panamanian government agrees to the deployments.[81][82][83]
| Panama Canal Repurchase Act | |
|---|---|
| United States House of Representatives | |
| |
| Citation | H.R. 283 |
| Territorial extent | United States |
| Introduced by | Dusty Johnson |
| Committee responsible | United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Keywords | |
| U.S. territorial sovereignty | |
| Status: Pending | |
On January 9, 2025, legislation was introduced in theU.S. House of Representatives by Rep.Dusty Johnson to authorize the United States Government to acquire the Panama canal zone on behalf of the U.S.[84] As of the date of introduction, the bill had 16 co-sponsors and had been referred to theUnited States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for review.[84]
While campaigning inNorth Carolina in June 2023, Trump told reporters, "When I left,Venezuela was ready to collapse. We would have taken it over, we would have gotten all that oil."[85]Secretary of StateMarco Rubio said that "all options should remain on the table" to remove Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Maduro from power and restore democracy in Venezuela.[86]Axios reported that President Donald Trump and his team wanted aregime change in Venezuela to go in a similar fashion to thefall of the Assad regime.[87] Puerto Rican governorJenniffer González-Colón said in a letter to US President Donald Trump that Maduro "is an open threat to the United States, our national security and stability in the region".[88][89] On April 27, 2025, Trump administration began designating a Venezuelan gang known as theTren de Aragua as a Venezuelan state-sponsored international terrorist organization.[90] When asked about the possibility of removing Maduro from power, Trump responded, "We'll see what happens".[91] On August 7, 2025, Attorney GeneralPam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, calling him one of the "world's most notorious narco-traffickers" and a "threat to national security."[92]
On August 18, 2025, the U.S. deployed three warships and approximately 4,000 sailors andMarines to the coast of Venezuela, citing the need to combat drug cartels.[93] On September 2, 2025, the U.S. Navy begancarrying out airstrikes against Venezuelan vessels in theSouthern Caribbean, alleging they were being operated by Tren de Aragua.[93]
Numerous politicians outside of the United States have criticised Donald Trump's annexation comments. Many have also compared Trump's comments about Canada, Greenland and Panama toRussian PresidentVladimir Putin's comments aboutUkraine andCCP General SecretaryXi Jinping's comments aboutTaiwan.[94][95][96][97]
Experts believe that the U.S. president possesses an imperialist outlook, to the extent that former U.S. ambassador toNATOIvo Daalder stated that under Trump's administration, the rules-based order has effectively ceased to exist.[98]
According to a jointWashington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll that was conducted in April 2025, 68% of Americans (including 81% of Democrats, 58% of Republicans and 65% of Independents) think that Trump is serious about trying to take control of Greenland.[99] In the same poll, 53% of Americans (including 75% of Democrats, 35% of Republicans, and 49% of Independents) think that Trump is serious about trying to take control of Canada.[100] The poll also showed the percentage of Americans who would support taking control of Canada and Greenland. 22% of Americans supported annexing Greenland and 76% of Americans opposed it, while 13% of Americans supported annexing Canada while 86% of Americans opposed it.[101]
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Donald Trump's proposals have been received negatively in Canada, with it being condemned by all major political parties and leaders as well as causing an increasing strain onCanada–United States relations. Polling conducted on Trump's proposals have received extremely little support among Canadians to the proposal of Canada becoming the 51st State with anAngus Reid poll showing that 90% of Canadians are against being annexed by the United States.[102] In a poll that was conducted on April 23, 2025, 82% of Canadians said that they would rather rejoin theBritish Empire than be annexed by the United States.[103] Polls also showed a sharp rise inCanadian nationalism, especially amongQuebecers.[104][105] An assessment by theUniversity of Toronto showed that even if the United States successfully invaded Canada and defeated theCanadian Armed Forces, theUnited States Army would still have to deal with a decades long war of resistance.[106] Aisha Ahmad, a historian who has studied insurgencies for more than 20 years said, "Even if only 1% of Canada's population waged a war of resistance against American forces, that would be 400,000 insurgents. That's about 10 times the number ofTaliban fighters who outlasted the American-led coalition in Afghanistan."[106]
Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau responded to Trump saying that there's "not a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would be annexed by the United States.[107][108] Conservative LeaderPierre Poilievre stated that Canada would never become the 51st state of America.[109] On February 7, 2025, Poilievre further stated that Trump's 51st state comments are not a joke saying: "I've always taken it seriously, and I've always clearly and consistently condemned it. Canada will never be the 51st state. We will be a strong, independent, sovereign country when I'm prime minister."[110]
After winning the2025 Canadian federal election, Canadian Prime MinisterMark Carney told theBBC during an interview, "He has territorial views. That's never, ever going to happen, with respect to Canada — frankly I don't think it's ever going to happen with respect to any other, whether it's Panama or Greenland or elsewhere."[111][112]
The Danish government has repeatedly stated that "Greenland is not for sale".[113][114][115][116] In a poll published byBerlingske andSermitsiaq, 85% of Greenlanders have stated that they are against being annexed by the United States.[117][118] The poll also showed that 45% of Greenlanders view Trump as a threat while 43% view Trump as an "opportunity" and 13% are undecided.[119] Trump's interest in Greenland has bolstered the cause of theGreenlandic independence from Denmark.[120]
Danish Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen said that "Europe must stand together" against Trump.[95] During a press conference on January 21, 2025, Greenlandic Prime MinisterMúte Bourup Egede stated, "We are Greenlanders. We don't want to be Americans. We don't want to be Danish either. Greenland's future will be decided by Greenland".[121] Kristian Søby Kristensen, a defense researcher from the University of Copenhagen said that Denmark could not defend Greenland from America on its own and that theDanish Armed Forces are neither equipped nor trained to stop an American invasion from happening.[122] Furthermore, Kristensen stated that Denmark's military stocks have been significantly depleted byarms transfers to Ukraine.[122] On February 2, 2025, during an EU meeting in Brussels, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters "I will never support the idea of fighting allies. But of course, if the U.S. puts tough terms on Europe, we need a collective and robust response."[123] On February 4, 2025, Greenland introduced a bill which would ban "foreign political donations".[124][125] The bill is viewed as a way to safeguard the2025 Greenlandic general election which was held on March 11, 2025.[126]
Most European politicians have voiced their support for Denmark.[127] French foreign ministerJean-Noël Barrot said that if Denmark were to request "solidarity" from EU countries, "France will be there."[128] He also stated that France would not tolerate American military intervention.[129] France also debated with Denmark about the possibility of the deployment of French troops to Greenland.[130][131][132] On February 4, 2025, NATO secretary generalMark Rutte sat down with EU leaders for lunch and suggested the deployment of NATO soldiers to Greenland in order to "defang the threat from the U.S. president".[133]
During a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German ChancellorOlaf Scholz stated that, "Borders must not be moved by force. To whom it may concern."[134]
Russian press secretaryDmitry Peskov said, "We are watching very closely this rather dramatic development of the situation, so far, thank God, at the level of statements."[135]
Prime Minister of Italy,Giorgia Meloni, in contrast, was rather skeptical regarding Trump's statements, stating that she did not believe President-elect Trump has a plan to purchase Greenland, Panama or Canada or acquire them through military force, suggesting that instead it was merely a "message" to other "Great Powers"[136] (such as China).[137] When Trump posted his "Trump Gaza" video, Giorgia Meloni did not comment,[138] leading to criticism from the opposition leader of thePartito Democratico (Democratic Party),Elly Schlein.[139]
In response to Trump's statements during his second term, Danish residents issued a satirical petition for Denmark to purchaseCalifornia from the United States for $1 trillion.[140][141] The petition parodied Trump's rhetoric as president, bearing the slogan "Måke Califørnia Great Ægain" and vowing to "bringhygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills and organicsmørrebrød to every street corner."[142] It also stated that California's name would be changed to "New Denmark".[143][144][145] The petition surpassed 200,000 signatures in less than 12 hours.[146][147][148]
Mexican PresidentClaudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's annexation suggestion by saying, "Mexico is a free, sovereign, and independent country, and we will always defend that."[149]
Sheinbaum responded to Trump renaming the gulf by saying thatGoogle Maps should present the map of América Mexicana over the United States. She also explained thatterritorial waters only extend up to 12 nautical miles, and that the renaming could not apply to the entire gulf.[150]
On January 13, 2025, Venezuelan presidentNicolas Maduro called for a military campaign to "liberate"Puerto Rico with the aid of Brazilian, Cuban, and Nicaraguan troops.[151][152][153] Maduro said in a speech during a rally, "Just as in the north they have an agenda of colonization, we have an agenda of liberation. And the agenda was written for us bySimon Bolivar, the freedom of Puerto Rico is pending and we will achieve it, with the troops of Brazil. We are preparing together with Cuba and Nicaragua and together with our older brothers in the world so that if one day we have to take up arms and defend the right to peace and sovereignty, we will fight in the armed struggle and win it again. We are not lukewarm leaders, we are theBolivarian Revolution of the 21st century. If it is by fair means, we will advance by fair means. If it is by foul means, we will also defeat them so that they respect us".[154]
On 18 August 2025, in response to the United States increasing the bounty on his head to $50 Million USD,[155] Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Maduro announced amass mobilization of theBolivarian Militia of Venezuela, with 4.5 million men and women reported to have been mobilized.[156] Venezuelans withhearing loss were reported to have turned up.[157]
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Panamanians say the Panama Canal is part of their national identity.[158] Paula Rodriguez, a cafe owner told the Guardian, "Panamanian people – we rise, you know, we defend and we unite, after all, to defend our country and our people. Because it's not about the canal, it's about our integrity. If you can see in the social media, people are angry, angry, and writing: 'No way – this is not gonna happen again."[159] Numerous anti-American protests have taken place across Panama since December 24, 2024.[160][161][162] On January 28, 2025, a coalition of civil society groups released a joint statement which condemned "any foreign political intervention".[163][164] Political scientist Osvaldo Jordán toldCNN on February 21, 2024, that Panama was "already in a situation of instability... then President Trump jumps onto the scene."[165]
In a poll that was conducted by DoxaPanamá in April 2025 asking "who would you want managing the Panama Canal?" 81% of Panamanians said thePanama Canal Authority, 16% said the US Government, and 3% said that they don't know.[166]
Panamanian PresidentJosé Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's claims about "retaking" the Panama Canal.[167] He further stated, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama and will continue to be. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable."[168] On March 19, 2025, Mulino said that Panama "will not give in to Trump's canal threats."[169] Saúl Méndez ofSUNTRACS said in an interview, "Trump tries to erase with a single whim, what was conquered here with the life of patriots, but today more than ever the defense of sovereignty is intact in the Panamanian people."[170] Panama's UN Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba stated that the United States should refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.[171] Panama City mayor Mayer Mizrachi posted on his X account that Panama would never become the 51st state.[159] Former Panamanian PresidentErnesto Pérez Balladares said that if the US were to invade there would be "many, many casualties on our side, and international condemnation of the U.S."[172] AfterPete Hegseth's comment on April 9, 2025, about the idea to station American soldiers in military bases and airfields in Panama, Panama's Defense MinisterFrank Abrego said during a joint press conference inPanama City, "Panama has made it clear through President Mulino that we cannot accept military bases or defensive installations."[173]
On June 12, 2025, Panamanian political analyst José Stouten said that, "Trump's impact has been devastating for the internal situation. The Trump effect has deepened the delegitimization of the government."[174]
After the signing of the joint security deal with the United States, many Panamanian politicians and citizens have criticized the government.[175]
On April 10, 2025, several groups of workers protested while chanting "No bases!".[176] More protests were planned for April 12, 2025.[177] Panamanian trade union leader Saul Mendez toldAgence France-Presse about the joint security deal, "What we have here is a setback to national sovereignty. What the Panamanian government has done is an act of treason. They are traitors and must be tried."[82]
On April 11, 2025, leader of the oppositionRicardo Lombana called the joint security deal, "an invasion without firing a shot."[178][179]
On April 12, 2025, protesters took to the streets of Panama City, shouting that President José Raúl Mulino is a traitor to the country for signing the security deal with the United States. Saul Mendez, a trade union leader and one of the protest organizers said about the protests, "Both Trump, Rubio and now Pete Hegseth have indicated that they are going to take the canal, and obviously the Panamanian people cannot accept this. And that is why we, a handful of patriots, are on the street today, rejecting the presence of the 'secretary of war' in Panama and repudiating Mulino, the traitor, who behind the people's back is giving away our sovereignty and our self-determination."[180][181]
On April 13, 2025, The United People's Alliance of Panama issued a statement which reads, "The country is being handed over with the four military bases that have been talked about. We cannot accept that. In this country, several generations of Panamanians fought for the sovereignty of the country, and today the dictator [Mulino] wants to hand over the sovereignty of this country and that cannot go unnoticed. We request international solidarity from peoples around the world and progressive, democratic, and revolutionary governments. We call for struggle and popular mobilization in defense of our national sovereignty. We reject Pete Hegseth's presence in Panama."[182]
On April 28, 2025,SUNTRACS and several Panama teachers' unions announced the beginning of an "indefinite strike" and began protesting in the streets.[183]
On April 29, 2025, hundreds of people took to the streets of Panama City to protest the joint security deal.[184] Protesters claimed that the deal undermines the sovereignty of Panama.[185]
On April 30, 2025, thousands of people took to the streets of Panama City in order to protest the joint security deal. Protest organizer Camila Aybar told the media, "We protest because they have stomped over the sovereignty of entire generations who have fought. They dumped our sovereignty to the trash by signing a memorandum of understanding that allows foreign military presence in Panama. Down with the memorandum! Down with the memorandum! Sovereign Panama!"[186]
On May 6, 2025, thousands of students and workers protested on the streets of Panama City.[187]France 24 reported that this protest was, "the biggest in three weeks of strikes and protests."[188] Tony Ruiz, one of the striking students, told reporters, "We feel like our president is acting against the wishes of many Panamanians and in very sensitive affairs. He signs an agreement behind our back that compromises our sovereignty, our neutrality with the world."[189]
On May 8, 2025, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced that despite the protests, he would not renegotiate the security agreement that his government had made with the United States.[190]
On May 11, 2025, The National Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples of Panama announced that they were preparing for street closures as a protest measure.[191]
On May 14, 2025, the protests entered their third week.[192]
On May 23, 2025, thousands of people took to the streets across Panama in order to protest the arrest of two labor union leaders who were both vocal opponents of Panamanian PresidentJosé Raúl Mulino's government.[193]
On June 4, 2025, protesters and police officers clashed inArimae,Darién Province causing casualties on both sides.[194]
On April 11, 2025, local lawyer Neftalí Jaén filed a legal case with theNational Assembly of Panama against Panamanian president José Raúl Mulino.[195] Jaén claims that Mulino violated Article 425 of the Penal Code of Panama which criminalizes "crimes against theinternational personality of the state".[196] Jaén also stated that under Article 425, the signing of agreements, conventions, or treaties that affect Panama's sovereignty could carry penalties of 20 to 30 years in prison if the act is committed by a public servant.[197]
On April 16, 2025, lawyer Juan Ramón Sevillano, on behalf of the Sal de las Redes civic coalition, filed a case to Panama's Supreme Court.[198] Sevillano's case states that the joint security deal that the Mulino government signed was "unconstitutional" due to the joint security deal violating 6 articles of Panama's constitution as well as violating theTorrijos–Carter Treaties.[199] In a document submitted to the supreme court, Sevillano also accused the security deal of being signed under pressure from the United States, saying that the "memorandum is a response to the pressures and threats we have been subjected to by the American nation, which, taking advantage of its greater military and economic power, has imposed its will in this agreement."[200]
Chinese Foreign Ministry SpokesmanLin Jian condemned the United States' "irresponsible remarks on the Panama canal issue, and intentionally distorted, attacked and mischaracterized relevant cooperation".[201]
On April 9, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian "firmly rejected" the remarks made by Hegseth stating, "The malicious attack against China and attempt to smear and undermineChina-Panama cooperation once again revealed the bullying and hegemonic nature of the U.S. The U.S. should take a hard look in the mirror and reflect on who is truly threatening the sovereignty, security, and development of other countries."[202]
On April 10, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Panama accused the Trump administration of blackmailing Panama with "repeated threats of seizing the Panama Canal" in order to diminish Chinese influence in the region.[181]
On April 23, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesmanGuo Jiakun stated, "The comments made by Panama's media have accurately exposed the essence of U.S. hegemonic behavior. The U.S. has fabricated the lie of 'China controlling the Panama Canal' and maliciously attacked China, which is merely an excuse to justify its control over the Canal and push forward its expansionist and 'Monroe Doctrine'-style hegemonic agenda. The international community and the people of Panama see this very clearly. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also rejected the false claim of Chinese interference because this is not based on facts."[203]
| No Invading Allies Act | |
|---|---|
| United States House of Representatives | |
| |
| Territorial extent | United States |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill citation | H.R. 1936 |
| Introduced by | Seth Magaziner |
| Introduced | March 6, 2025 |
| Committee responsible | United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs and theUnited States House Committee on Armed Services[204] |
| Summary | |
| Legislation to prohibit President Trump from invading Greenland, Canada, or Panama without a vote of Congress[205] | |
| Status: Pending | |
On March 6, 2025, Democratic representativeSeth Magaziner introduced legislation which would prevent President Donald Trump from going to war with Canada, Greenland, or Panama without a vote from Congress.[206] The bill would also prevent theUnited States Armed Forces from using federal funds in an invasion of Canada, Greenland or Panama without the approval of Congress.[207]
On 17 October 2025, Democratic senatorsTim Kaine of Virginia,Adam B. Schiff of California, and Republican senatorRand Paul of Kentucky announced that they would force a bipartisan vote on a bill that would prevent the United States from taking military action against Venezuela without the approval of Congress.[208]
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