Trump "Panama Canal will demand return if it fails to abide by principles"

Trump said Panama is imposing excessive canal tolls on the United States and stressed that if Panama does not adhere to moral and legal principles, it will demand the return of the Panama Canal.

Trump said in a speech in Phoenix, U.S., that Panama is unfairly treating the U.S. Navy and U.S. companies by charging excessive driving tolls.

The 82-kilometer-long Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, was completed in 1914 under the leadership of the United States and transferred ownership to Panama in 1999.

"We left Panama with the management of the canal, not to let China and others manage it," Trump said, which is interpreted as calling on Panama to lower U.S. ship tolls and not to cooperate with China.

Trump then signed an executive order to close the border on the first day of his inauguration to prevent illegal immigrants from entering, and warned that he would conduct the largest-ever campaign to expel illegal immigrants, including foreign gangs.