The Importance of Race, Class, and Territorial Sovereignty in Panama Amid Trump’s Canal Threats

Analysis: The Importance of Race, Class, and Territorial Sovereignty in Panama Amid Trump’s Canal Threats

by Chevy Solís Acevedo y Janvieve Williams Comrie

Donald Trump’s recent threats to reclaim control of the Panama Canal represent an attack on Panamanian sovereignty and reflect imperialist attitudes that have historically marginalized Black communities. These statements, made in the context of a complex political landscape in Panama, require analysis through the lenses of race, class, and territorial sovereignty. From the labor of Caribbean workers who built the Canal to the current struggles for equitable resource distribution, understanding these intersections is essential to addressing U.S. intervention threats and the policies of Panama’s right-wing administration.,,

Banner photo: Man holding sign at “demostraciones contra la mineria extractivista” in Panama. 2023 (courtesy afroresistance.org).