What is up with Trump’s bizarre fascination with the Panama Canal?

He seems to want to invade Panama and take control of the canal.  That seems rather bizarre. 

  Nothing "bazarre" -President-elect Donald Trump criticized Panama's management of the Panama Canal in a Truth Social post Saturday, calling the current transit fees charged to the U.S. “ridiculous” and vowing to end what he described as a “complete rip-off.” Trump warned that if Panama fails to honor its “moral and legal” agreements, the United States would “demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.” - Trump described the Panama Canal as a "VITAL National Asset for the United States," emphasizing its significance for U.S. commerce, Navy deployment, and global trade. He noted, “The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports.” - 

What's the point? It is their canal and they can do what they want with it. 

 What is the point? There is an agreement in place that Panama is not adhearing to, that is the point.

Panama is in violation of the Neutrality provisions of the treaty. China is operating the ports at both ends on the canal and threatening the national security of the US by trade interference. The treaty specifically permits the use of military force by the US to restore interests in the canal for the exact reason Panama has allowed.

David, Liberals don't believe that the truth counts.

Panama is a sovereign nation, and the idea that Trump can invade is horrible. It would be a gross violation of their rights and their territory.

The Panama Canal has NEVER belonged to the United States. The Canal Zone was LEASED land and was and is the property of Panama.

Millerscum misstates/misquotes the provisions of the 1977 treaty. The US is only authorized to use military force to counter a military threat to the Canal. There is no such threat. Trump claims that China's use of the Canal constitutes such a threat. It doesn't.

If we become the world's bully nation, threatening to take over lands that don't belong to us, the world will grow to hate us.

Boiler, don't be a lying pig. The Canal belongs to Panama, not to Trump.

I read the treaty.  This is Article 2 of the 1977 treaty:

Article II Ratification, Entry Into Force, and Termination

1. The Treaty shall be subject to ratification in accordance with the constitutional procedures of the two Parties. The instruments of ratification of this Treaty shall be exchanged at Panama at the same time as the instruments of ratification of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, signed this date, are exchanged. This Treaty shall enter into force, simultaneously with the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, six calendar months from the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

 2. This Treaty shall terminate at noon, Panama time, December 31, 1999.

Therefore, the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 terminated on December 31, 1999 and is no longer in effect.  Article 5 of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal states that   "After the termination of the Panama Canal Treaty, only the Republic of Panama shall operate the Canal and maintain military forces, defense sites and military installations within its nation territory." Nowhere in the treaty does it specifically permit the use of military force by the US in the Canal Zone. 

Right. But Trump doesn't even seem to be aware of that. He and a couple of his lackeys referred to the provision in the 1977 treaty that authorized the US to use military force if there was a military threat against the Canal. Trump made the bizarre claim that the Canal is presently under military attack because China is using it.

Do you know what's behind Trump's bizarre hard-on for China? Did they turn him down for one of his business scams?