US company buys ports in the Panama Canal, who angered Trump

US company buys ports in the Panama Canal, who angered Trump

New York -the American asset manager Blackrock has agreed with the Hong Kong company CK Hutchison to buy two ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. This takeover takes place against the background that the ownership of the ports of President Donald Trump had annoyed.

Trump and the Panama Canal

Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to get the Panama channel back from Panama. Since the handover of the control in 1999, which was negotiated under a contract with the United States, he has expressed concerns about Chinese influence on certain port companies. In his inaugural speech, he said: "China runs the Panama Canal. And we didn't give it to China. We handed it over to Panama and we'll get it back." In a press conference before his inauguration, Trump left open that he was ready to use military power or economic compulsory measures to regain control over the channel.

Details of the takeover

The deal announced on Tuesday stipulates that Blackrock and a consortium of investors invest $ 22.8 billion to buy the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, which are at the ends of the channel. This was announced as a “preliminary agreement”. The consortium also acquires CK Hutchison's majority share of 43 other ports in 23 countries, with the exception of the companies in China and Hong Kong.

Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock, said: "These first -class ports support global growth. With our close connection to organizations such as Hutchison and governments worldwide, we are increasingly the first point of contact for partners who are looking for long -term capital. We are pleased that our customers can take part in this investment."

black skirt: a global giant

Blackrock is one of the largest asset managers worldwide and manages assets worth $ 11.6 trillion. For comparison: this corresponds to about 40 % of the US gross domestic product. Blackrock does not have complete control over a variety of top -class companies, but has significant shares in some of the largest and most successful companies in the country, including Walmart, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

The Panama Canal and its economic importance

The Panama Canal, which was built by the United States at the beginning of the 20th century and completed in 1914, is a crucial element for international trade and the transport of US military ships. About 4 % of global sea dealers and more than 40 % of container traffic in the United States pass this channel. In 2024, the channel achieved almost $ 5 billion in total income. According to a study by the IDB Invest, 23.6 % of the annual Panama income comes from the canal and the associated services.

Since the handover in 1999, the channel of Panama and not by Hong Kong or China has been operated, despite the concerns of Trump.

political reactions

The White House initially did not comment on the purchase, but Trump's concerns could alleviate this with regard to the Chinese influence on the waterway. Mike Waltz, the national security advisor of the government, reported that the Panamaic leadership had started "negotiations on the ports on both sides of the canal".

However, the reduction in Chinese influence is only part of Trump's demands on Panama, which also includes that Panama American ships no longer calculate transit fees. Marco Rubio, who was present in Panama when Foreign Minister Rex Tillerson was attended abroad, said that he believed that US ships should drive through the channel free of charge. Rubio added that the United States was obliged to protect the Panama channel when attacked, and described it as "absurd" that you had to pay fees for the passage in a zone that you have to protect in the event of a conflict.

"These are our expectations. They were clear. They were clearly understood in these conversations," he said in his statements in the Dominican Republic after visiting Panama.

- This report was updated with additional information and context.