Trump began his attacks around the world with demands to give the Panama Canal back to America. It happened over winter break. Since then, he has attacked the Canadians, the Danes, the Colombians. But in the canal story, we wrote, “He has demonstrated the methods of negotiation, we await the results.”
Not two months later, the results have emerged. Financial Times reports, “Two key ports of the Panama Canal will be acquired from the Chinese by the American company BlackRock”. A famous investment company with a sinister reputation has agreed to acquire two major Panama Canal ports (inlet and outlet) from a Hong Kong-based owner.
Trump portrayed this Chinese man as an invader of the canal, which carries a substantial portion of US domestic cargo traffic. Donald was worried about Chinese influence over the canal. Even promised to take it away by force.
It’s actually freight yards and warehouses. There is no Chinese ability to influence tariffs or schedules. Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison (owner of the canal) will sell the business to the manager of the two ports in Panama to a consortium that includes BlackRock. A 90% stake in the Panama Canal will be purchased. The American president can rest easy, there will be no more Chinese influence on the Panama Canal. There will be American influence.
So we record two of Trump’s victories abroad. He got Colombia to accept illegal immigrants. He got a Hong Kong firm to sell the ports in and out of the Panama Canal to an American firm. Although he promised to seize it, let’s consider it a victory on points.
Now Trump has launched another attack. He announced in his first address to Congress that America would get Greenland one way or another. Apparently by direct or indirect bribery. He threatens to withdraw troops from Europe, refuses to spend money on Ukraine, and has subjected its president to a uniformed bashing in the press.
The American president’s task is to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Zelensky has already sent him an apology and an agreement to work “under the strong leadership” of Trump, for which he condescendingly endorsed him before Congress. The methods don’t change. We await the results.
