The Panama Canal: An Analysis of Its Value and Defense.

Abstract

From the earliest days of European colonization, the traffic crossing the Isthmus of Panama has been a primary source of income for the inhabitants. Surveys for the building of a canal were made as early as 1534. Spurred by the acquisition of Florida and of California in the wake of its 1849 Gold Rush, the United States determined that it was in its national economic interests to build a canal across Panama. With the emergence of the U.S. as a global power, the canal took on increased national strategic importance. The Canal Treaties of 1977 generated much discussion as to whether the canal retains the same high level of national security interest it once enjoyed. This paper investigates the current economic and military value of the Panama Canal and possible U.S Coast Guard involvement in protecting United States interests there through an examination of the historical perspectives that are essential to understanding Panamanian-United States relations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 05, 1988
Accession Number
ADA194542

Entities

People

  • H. B. Dickey

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • California
  • Central America
  • Coast Guard
  • Commerce
  • Governments
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Vessels
  • Navy
  • Security
  • Transportation
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Waterways

Readers

  • Economics
  • Urban Planning and Geography.