White House Requests Military Options to Forcibly Retake Panama Canal, Sources Say

On March 13, 2025, at 10:59 AM ET, Raw Story reported that the White House under President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. military to devise plans for a potential operation to reclaim the Panama Canal. According to NBC News, cited by reporter Brad Reed, U.S. Southern Command is exploring a spectrum of strategies, ranging from enhanced collaboration with Panama’s military to the less probable scenario of U.S. troops seizing the canal by force. The decision to employ force hinges on the level of cooperation from Panamanian forces, with sources indicating that an invasion remains unlikely unless a bolstered U.S. presence fails to meet Trump’s objective of regaining control over the waterway.

The administration’s stated aim, per NBC News sources, is to expand the U.S. military footprint in Panama to counter China’s perceived influence, particularly its access to the canal—a critical global shipping route. This directive aligns with Trump’s broader territorial ambitions, which have included proposals to annex Greenland from Denmark and integrate Canada as the “51st state,” alongside retaking the Panama Canal. These ideas, floated over recent months, have sparked significant backlash from the affected nations. In Canada, for instance, sports fans have expressed dissent by booing the U.S. national anthem at hockey and basketball games.

The Panama Canal, transferred to Panamanian control in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter, has been a focal point of Trump’s rhetoric, with the White House viewing its strategic importance as justification for potential action. The report underscores the administration’s focus on diminishing foreign influence, though no immediate military escalation has been confirmed.

**Links and References:**

- Original article: [Raw Story - White House asks military for plans to seize Panama Canal 'by force': report](https://www.rawstory.com/panama-canal-trump-military-operation/)

- NBC News source: [NBC News - Trump White House has asked U.S. military to develop options for the Panama Canal, officials say](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-white-house-asks-military-develop-options-panama-canal-officials-n1334567) (Note: Hypothetical link as exact URL not specified in source)