Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) plans to introduce the Panama Canal Repurchase Act, which would authorize President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate reacquisition of the strategic waterway. The move comes amid Republican concerns over China’s presence near the canal.

Johnson argued the canal’s control is critical to U.S. interests, stating, “America must project strength abroad — owning and operating the Panama Canal might be an important step towards a stronger America and a more secure globe.”

The bill allows Trump, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to open discussions with Panama’s government. It also mandates a progress report to Congress within 180 days, detailing the state of negotiations and challenges.

BREAKING: Rep. Dusty Johnson recently introduced the “Panama Canal Repurchase Act,” which would allow Trump or any U.S. president to negotiate the purchase of the Panama Canal and bring it under U.S. control…

— Science Guy PhD (@ScienceGuyPhD) January 9, 2025

Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaties, which transferred the canal to Panama by 1999. Calling the agreement a mistake, Trump has repeatedly highlighted the canal’s importance for U.S. commerce and military operations.

Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson plans to introduce legislation giving Trump green light to buy Panama Canalhttps://t.co/4DkcjPUIYW pic.twitter.com/0LLLFq7TLs

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 9, 2025

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, rejected Trump’s previous calls for discussions about U.S. control, saying, “We are not considering any such talks.” Despite this, Republicans argue that China’s activities near the canal make regaining control an urgent matter.

When asked about using military force to secure the canal, Trump did not rule out the possibility. “I’m not going to commit to that,” he said. “The Panama Canal is vital to our country, and it’s being operated by China.”