Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Panama Canal
Why in the News?
US President-elect Donald Trump criticized Panama for charging excessively for US ships’ use of the Panama Canal and threatened a US takeover of the canal.
About Panama Canal:
Geographical Location:
- Located in Central America, connecting the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean.
- 80 km long, spanning across the Isthmus of Panama.
- Uses a system of locks to raise and lower ships across an elevation of 85 feet (26 meters).
Historical Significance:
- French started construction in 1881, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, but failed.
- Completed by the U.S. in 1914, under engineers George Washington Goethals and John Stevens.
- Control transferred from the U.S. to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1977).
- Present Significance:
- Crucial for global trade, reducing travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Strategic military value, especially during the World Wars.
- Major contributor to Panama’s economy through tolls and trade-related activities.
Present Geopolitics:
- Trump raised concerns about China’s influence in the region, especially Panama’s role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- In recent years, Chinese companies have been involved in infrastructure projects around the Panama Canal, including logistics and energy sectors.
- Panama’s 2018 signing of the BRI furthered its ties with China, a development that some view as a challenge to US influence in the region.
PYQ:[2011] Between India and East Asia, the navigation time and distance can be greatly reduced by which of the following? 1. Deepening the Malacca straits between Malaysia and Indonesia. 2. Opening a new canal across the Kra isthmus between the Gulf of Siam and Andaman Sea. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both I and 2 (d) Neither I nor 2 |
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