Buying Panama Canal In The Works

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             

Trump is planning on reclaiming/ buying the Panama Canal from Panama, he said in his latest speech.  The present owners are : Isthmian Canal Commission, Government of Panamá. 

In an address to the nation on Tuesday (3/4/2025) US President Donald Trump vowed that his administration would reclaim the Panama Canal, promising to fulfil a promise to retake the critical juncture that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 

Colombia, France, and later the United States controlled the territory surrounding the canal during construction. France began work on the canal in 1881, but stopped in 1889 because of a lack of investors' confidence due to engineering problems and a high worker mortality rate. The US took over the project in 1904 and opened the canal in 1914. The US continued to control the canal and surrounding Panama Canal Zone until the Torrijos–Carter Treaties provided for its handover to Panama in 1977. 

After a period of joint American–Panamanian control, the Panamanian government took control in 1999. It is now managed and operated by the Panamanian government-owned Panama Canal Authority.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino gestures during a press conference in Panama City, Panama, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

PANAMA CITY, March 5 (Reuters) - Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said on Wednesday morning that U.S. President Donald Trump was lying when he said that the North American leader's administration was "reclaiming" the Panama Canal.

Trump's comments to Congress came after a deal led by U.S. firm BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab was announced earlier Tuesday to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison (0001.HK), which includes assets along the Panama Canal.

There is a Jewish community in Panama, which is the largest in Central America. The community is active in many aspects of Panamanian society, including politics and business. Panama has a Jewish population of around 25,000 people. Most live in Panama City. The community is predominantly observant.  

• Jewish immigration to Panama has occurred multiple times, including in the 19th century, 1930s, and 1990s. 
• Panama is the only country outside of Israel to have had two Jewish presidents.  The Jewish community has many synagogues, schools, and kosher facilities.  Panama has a large kosher food scene.The community publishes a magazine that chronicles its history.The community also has a volunteer emergency medical service called Hatzalah. 
• Panama is known for being a safe and welcoming country for Jewish people.  Many Latin American Jews have immigrated to Panama to escape political and economic instability in other countries. 
• With Trump working on a deal to "reclaim" the Panama Canal, 
  
  Larry Fink, born November 2, 1952 and Jewish,  will be 73 years old, from  Van Nuys, California. In December 2016, Fink joined a business forum assembled by then president-elect Donald Trump to provide strategic and policy advice on economic issues.  
  
  Trump was well aware of a deal — BlackRock’s $22.8bn takeover of 43 ports owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison, including two at either end of the Panama Canal — before it was announced on Tuesday.  Marco Rubio, had been briefed by Larry Fink, BlackRock’s own billionaire chief executive.

Laurence Douglas Fink is an American billionaire businessman. He is a co-founder, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, an American multinational investment management corporation.

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Panama#:~:text=The%20current%20Jewish%20population%20of,Jewish%20population%20in%20Central%20America.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/panama-president-says-trump-lied-about-panama-canals-reclaiming-2025-03-05/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Fink

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