What’s the connection between Trump, Panama Canal, China and mosquitoes? Captain from India, US leave their ship here due to…

The Panama Canal was owned and controlled solely by the United States, from 1914 until 1979. Here's what happened next.

If we talk about routes that changed the global dynamics forever, the Panama Canal constructed between the continents of North America and South American will definitely be one of them. Panama Canal is a lock-type canal owned and administered by the Republic of Panama. The length of the Panama Canal is about 40 miles (65 km) and it is one of the two most strategic artificial waterways in the world.

Talking about its ownership, the Panama Canal was owned and controlled solely by the United States, from 1914 until 1979. However, the control of the canal passed to the Panama Canal Commission in 1979, under a joint agency of the United States and the Republic of Panama.

Panama Canal and China relation

It has been reported many times that China has been one of the biggest reasons behind the significant growth in the business of the canal. For the unversed, the canal connects China to the east coast of America. However, if reports are to be believed, China is building a canal in Nicaragua as an alternative to the Panama Canal, due to which the age-old route might face issues in the future.

How mosquitoes killed 25000 workers at Canal

The Panama Canal’s groundbreaking took place on New Year’s Day in 1881, under the charge of Ferdinand de Lesseps, famously known for his lead engineering role in the Suez Canal’s creation. The construction started rather hastily, causing the death of 25,000 laborers. The combination of deadly diseases, like malaria and yellow fever, worsened by the harsh weather and swarms of mosquitoes, led to this tragic loss.

Moreover, the Panama Canal is the only waterway in the world where captains from many countries including US and India give up control of their ships to Panama expert captains.

President-elect Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal

President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal on Sunday (December 22), accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Arizona, Trump also said he would not let the canal fall into the “wrong hands,” warning of potential Chinese influence on the passage.

After the event, he posted an image on Truth Social of an American flag flying over a narrow body of water, with the comment: “Welcome to the United States Canal!”

Trump’s comments were an exceedingly rare example of a U.S. leader saying he could push a sovereign country to hand over territory. They also underlined an expected shift in U.S. diplomacy under Trump, who has not historically shied away from threatening allies and using bellicose rhetoric when dealing with counterparts.

(With inputs from agencies)