WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Newly sworn-in President

Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would take

back the Panama Canal as he delivered an inauguration speech in

which he invoked the 19th century expansionist doctrine of

"Manifest Destiny."

Doubling down on his pre-inauguration threat to reimpose

U.S. control over the canal, Trump again accused Panama of

breaking the promises it made for the final transfer of the

strategic waterway in 1999 and of ceding its operation to China

- claims that the Panamanian government has vehemently denied.

"We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're

taking it back," Trump said.

He gave no further details on when or how he intended to do

that but had previously refused to rule out possible use of

military force, which drew criticism from Washington's Latin

American friends and foes alike.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino on Monday responded on X

that his country has administered the canal responsibly for

world trade, including for the U.S., and that it "is and will

continue to be Panamanian."

Trump's reiteration of his threat about the Panama Canal as

he began his second term was his most blatant mention of an

agenda for territorial expansion that he has laid out in recent

weeks.

In the run-up to his inauguration, he had also said he

wanted to acquire Greenland, portraying the overseas Danish

territory as crucial for U.S. national security interests, and

mused about turning Canada into a U.S. state.

POSSIBLE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR RUSSIA, CHINA AMBITIONS

Critics have accused Trump of language that evokes

modern-day imperialism, suggesting such rhetoric could encourage

Russia on its war in Ukraine and give justification to China if

it decides to invade self-ruled Taiwan.

Some analysts have questioned whether Trump is serious about

pursuing what critics say would be a land grab, speculating he

may be laying down an extreme negotiating position to squeeze

out concessions later on. Also, Trump, in first term from

2017-2021, was known for issuing some headline-grabbing threats

and pronouncements that he failed to deliver on.

While Trump made no mention of Greenland or Canada in his

inaugural address, he offered hints of territorial aspirations

during his second four-year term.

"The United States will once again consider itself a growing

nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory,

builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag

into new and beautiful horizons," he said.

"And we will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars,

launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on

the planet Mars," Trump added.

Manifest Destiny, a phrase originally coined in the

mid-1800s, was the belief in a God-ordained right of the U.S.

to expand its control throughout North America, and was used to

justify the seizure of lands from Mexico and from Native

Americans.

In Monday's speech, Trump also repeated his promise to

change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Trump said the U.S. had "foolishly" given the Panama Canal

to Panama.

The United States largely built the canal and administered

territory surrounding the passage for decades. But the United

States and Panama signed a pair of accords in 1977 that paved

the way for the canal's return to full Panamanian control. The

United States handed it over in 1999 after a period of joint

administration.

"We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that

should have never been made, and Panama's promise to us has been

broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has

been totally violated," Trump said.

He said U.S. ships are "being severely overcharged and not

treated fairly in any way, shape or form."

Panama has insisted that it treats fairly all vessels that

transit the canal, and has said China has no control over its

administration.

China does not control or administer the canal, but a

subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings ( CKHUF ) 0001.HK has

long managed two ports located on the canal's Caribbean and

Pacific entrances.

The canal is an 82-km (51-mile) artificial waterway that

connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through Panama and is

critical to U.S. imports of autos and commercial goods by

container ships from Asia, and for U.S. exports of commodities,

including liquefied natural gas.