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US President Donald Trump used his inaugural address to reiterate threats to take back control of the Panama Canal and said he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Mr Trump said that despite the US having built the canal at great expense and the death of 38,000 workers more than a century ago, American shipping companies using the waterway that connects the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are being “overcharged” by Panama.
“The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated,” Mr Trump said. “American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back.”
The US built the canal between 1900 and 1914 in one of mankind's greatest feats of engineering. Panama officially retook control of the canal in 1999 under an agreement with the US.
In a statement following Mr Trump's inaugural address, President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino "rejected" Mr Trump's desire to take back the canal.
"The Canal is and will continue to be Panama’s and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control, with respect to its permanent neutrality," Mr Mulino said.
Mr Trump also vowed to change the name of the Alaskan mountain called Denali, the highest peak in North America, back to its non-native name of Mount McKinley.
“We will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley where it should be and where it belongs,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump, who has championed an America First agenda, vowed to restore its place in the world. “America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world,” he said.
While he did not address it in his inaugural speech, Mr Trump has in recent days floated the idea of taking control of Greenland and turning Canada in the 51st state.
