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FACT CHECK: Did the U.S. Ever 'Own' The Panama Canal?

The article from MSN discusses the historical context of the Panama Canal, addressing the claim that the U.S. once owned it. It explains that while the U.S. did not technically "own" the Panama Canal, it had significant control over it. The U.S. facilitated Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, and through the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, gained rights to construct, manage, and defend the canal. This control was exercised through the Panama Canal Zone, a 10-mile wide strip of land where the U.S. had sovereignty until the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, which set the stage for the canal's transfer back to Panama. The transfer was completed on December 31, 1999, when Panama assumed full control of the canal. The article clarifies that while the U.S. had de facto control, the canal was always legally Panamanian territory.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/fact-check-did-the-u-s-ever-own-the-panama-canal/ar-AA1xbI8x ]