Background

The Panama Canal, a crucial maritime trade route, has been under Panamanian control since December 31, 1999, following the 1977 Panama Canal Treaties signed during the Carter administration. Donald Trump has recently made statements suggesting Chinese troops are operating the canal and indicating a desire to retake control, claims that Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has firmly rejected as "nonsense."

Resolution Criteria

This market will resolve YES if:

• The US military is deployed to the Panama Canal with the explicit purpose of taking control or establishing a military presence

• The deployment must be officially ordered by the US government

This market will resolve NO if:

• No such deployment occurs

• The deployment is only threatened but not executed

• US military personnel are present only as part of routine transit or diplomatic missions

Considerations

• Any US military action at the Panama Canal would violate international treaties and Panamanian sovereignty

• Such action would likely result in significant diplomatic consequences and international opposition

• The market should be interpreted as referring to an actual military deployment, not just political rhetoric or threats

• The presence of US military vessels passing through the canal as part of normal operations does not constitute deployment for the purposes of this market