by 뉴욕 법대 교수
“U.S. President-elect Donald Trump clearly does not intend to pursue a “good neighbor” policy.
the Panama Canal was an American idea, the brainchild of Teddy Roosevelt at the start of the 20th century — and the U.S. has had difficulty letting go of it ever since.
sovereignty has been a pliable concept throughout Panama’s history.
One of the two treaties that the countries signed specified that the U.S. remained in control of the canal’s security and could use military force to defend it against any threat to neutrality. In fact, the U.S. retained the right to defend the canal forever.
Seen in the light of this history, Trump’s recent statements may be shocking, but they are not surprising. As Trump contemplates his next move on the Panama Canal, the question we should be asking is whether America ever became truly reconciled to giving it up.”