President-elect Donald Trump has recently expressed great interest in the Panama Canal and raised concerns about the growing influence and control exerted over that vital piece of global trade infrastructure by the communist Chinese regime.

This week, the Panamanian president pushed back against and firmly denied Trump's "nonsense" claims about alleged Chinese "interference" in the day-to-day operation of the Canal, Axios reported.

However, prior analysis shows that while some of the details of Trump's claims may be embellished or incorrect, his underlying concern about China's undeniably increasing control and influence over the Panama Canal is valid.

Trump calls out growing Chinese control of Panama Canal

In a two-part Truth Social post on Dec. 21, President-elect Trump wrote at length about the Panama Canal as "a VITAL National Asset" for the U.S. that plays a "critical role" in the nation's commerce, economy, and national security.

"When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else," he continued. "It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage."

Trump went on to complain about the "unfair and injudicious way" Panama has treated the U.S. and suggested that if the terms of a prior agreement were not met, "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!"

Just a few days later on Dec. 25, Trump again referenced Chinese control of the Panama Canal and wrote to begin his wide-ranging holiday message, "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago)."

Panamanian president dismissed Trump's China concerns as "nonsense"

On Thursday, according to Axios, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino held a press conference in which he adamantly insisted that there was "absolutely not any interference" in the operation of the Canal by China or anybody else and that the Canal was equally open for business to all nations.

"If they're Chinese, if they're Costa Rican, if they're American, all are welcome who want to invest in the country. There is no discrimination here in foreign investment," he said.

"There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God," Mulino added at one point in direct contradiction to Trump's claim. "It's nonsense. There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal."

Trump is not entirely wrong

Although uniformed Chinese troops may not be deployed to operate the Panama Canal, according to a serious analysis from just a few years ago, President-elect Trump is not entirely wrong to call out China's rapidly growing influence over the crucial piece of infrastructure that is vital to U.S. trade and security.

In 2021, the Center for Strategic and International Studies observed that China's "increasing presence in and around the Canal has made the waterway a flashpoint for U.S.-China competition over spheres of influence," which includes Chinese control of critical ports on either end of the Canal and substantial influence gained by investments funding numerous other infrastructure projects related to the Canal's operations.

It was also pointed out that, per a decades-old Neutrality Treaty, Panama and the U.S. are supposed to guarantee "permanent neutrality of the Canal with fair access for all nations and nondiscriminatory tolls. Only Panama may operate the Canal or maintain military installations in Panamanian territory."

As for Trump's assertion that the U.S. may take back control of the Canal, the treaty reserves the right of the U.S. to "exert military force in defense of the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality," which means that "Any interpreted Chinese threat to the Canal’s neutrality could activate the U.S. forces through this treaty."