Why the Panama Canal is so important for a US’ war in the Pacific

How Climate Change affect the US in a possible war with China
Go to ground.news/kamome to stay fully informed on breaking news, compare coverage and avoid media bias. sign up for free or subscribe through my link before the 30th August for 30% off unlimited access if you support the mission and find it as useful as I do.
The Panama Canal is the main threat to the US in a war with China because the Panama Canal is experiencing the worst drought periods since the 1950s. 2019 and 2023 have been the driest rainy seasons in Panama since decades. This drought has drastically reduced the Alajuela and Gatun lakes water reserves, and has consequently reduced the number of ships capable of traversing the Canal. This has huge economic consequences on American trade, but more importantly on the US military power projection in view of a war with China in the Indo-Pacific. In this video we will answer two main questions: What would happen if the Panama Canal drought periods will worsen in the future, and drastically diminish the number of US Navy ships through the canal during a conflict with China? What alternatives exists in case of a blockade of the canal?
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Music: Premiumbeats
Stock footage: US Navy KZbin channel
Softwares: Animations made with ♥️ with Blender, Editing in DaVinci Resolve, and map analysis and editing in QGIS.
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Check my previous videos:
Australia's Maritime Strategy: • Australia Maritime Str...
The Strategic Importance of Afghanistan: • Why is Afghanistan so ...
The Malacca Dilemma: • China's weakness: the ...
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References and Bibliography:
mango-roquefort-03f.notion.si...
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Table of content:
00:00 Why the Panama Canal is so important for the US in a war with China
01:19 How does the Panama Canal Work
03:29 The Economic repercussions to US economy
05:26 Ground News
06:29 The Panama canal in a US-China war scenario
10:09 The US military reliance on the Panama Canal
11:33 The alternatives and possible solution
13:18 Conclusion
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Thank you!
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[@Kamome163]

Go to ground.news/kamome to stay fully informed on breaking news, compare coverage and avoid media bias. Sign up for free or subscribe through my link before the 30th August for 30% off unlimited access if you support the mission and find it as useful as I do.

[@kiabtoomlauj6249]

The Panama Canal COULD be a problem, not THE problem. The studies you've cited were PARTICULAR studies, with particular focuses (on the various potential issues). They are not THE MAIN study of a major war between the US and China.... it doesn't matter what the title of the studies say or what you or I say about them. Some general facts need to be kept in mind: In a major war between the US and China, the latter WILL do some serious damages to Americans ---- the US, for example, wouldn't go out of its way to do an OFFENSIVE against China, but if it put itself squarely next to Taiwan as an ally, then it would be harmed by China's OFFENSIVE AGAINST TAIWAN. As a result of that, the Americans would invoke Article 5 of NATO ....and China, in that case, would have ZERO chance of defeating the US or the entirety of the West. In a major military war between Taiwan/the US and China, it wouldn't be looked at by the world as "just another small struggle between two nations having nothing better to do..." Instead, it'd be a CLASH of societal, political, and military ideals and doctrines.... with THE WEST being against China, a Communist totalitarian FROM THE DAYS of Lenin, Stalin et al of the early 1900s... Neither the US nor Western Europe could afford to just stand by and allow totalitarian societies like Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, etc. to do whatever they want to neighbors, far or near, around the world. Whether we personally LIKE that reality or not, THAT IS THE REALITY of the modern world we live in... If a war between the US and China were to happen and were it escalated to an exchange of ICBMs, then NO COUNTRY is going to win... But if it is purely a CONVENTIONAL war, then China would be militarily returned to the 1960s and 70s, for sure... with most of coastal military and heavy industry sites bombed to smithereens by the US Air Force's 10,000 aircraft capability. Only those deep & well hidden, well protected by powerful radars, in the hinterlands of China would survive... Fact is, China has ZERO capability to out maneuvering either the US Navy or Air Force... EVEN in the case that China has taken down most American military satellites (with the US also taking down most or all China's own military satellites)... so that both major countries are doing it by star lights at night, by visual sight in daylights, and doing it all via good, reliable millennium-long tactical maneuvers by experience and guesses.... And, yes, BOTH the US and China have the capability to bring down the other's space satellites... to make sure their opponent's ability to see what the other side is doing is limited... Again, even in THAT scenario, the US 11 carrier/strike groups, its DOZENS of nuclear propelled subs, and its 10,000 aircraft Air Force.... China has little to no chance to overcome such superior military assets of the US.... The US also has MANY DOZENS of flying tankers, that could be airborne in Southeast Asia and East Asia 24/7, allowing its 500 to 700 top of the line VERTICAL TAKE-OFF/LANDING aircraft from the US Marines to go virtually anywhere they want...

[@Me-mn4nw]

This is serious for the NE food supply chain. Produce is going to waste. This winter is going to be hard globally and most are too ignorant to realize it.

[@gonzaloramirezdelarosa2111]

Climate Change it’s being provoked!!!

[@tricorntom2254]

I went through the Panama Canal on a cruise in May. It's not "a series of locks through the whole width of the canal." There are only two sets of locks: one on the Atlantic/Caribbean side, and the other on the Pacific side. The ships move through the middle of the country from one side to another without encountering any locks. The locks are at both ends but nowhere else.

[@Kamome163]

Thanks for the comment! The series of locks refers to the fact that there are several locks for both the Neopanamax and the Panamax standards on the canal. For the Panamax there are two on the Pacific side. On a different note how was the water level situation when you went there?

[@tricorntom2254]

I went through in late April, when the drought had just begun so there was no backup. I have to say, if you or your listeners haven't done the canal yet, it's a truly amazing journey. Right now cruises are dirt cheap, because the lines are trying to gain back all the customers they lost during Covid. Just remember to look for "full transit" so you go all the way through from Atlantic to Pacific. I also did the shore excursion which went through the old Canal village (still in use).

[@jarrettbobbett5230]

The video gets good at 6:25. PS. Its called "The Canadian Northwest Passage".

[@Kamome163]

Thank you!

[@2x2is22]

The canal depends on upland water sources, got it. I wonder how realistic it is to pump in ocean water instead?

[@ekesandras1481]

They are not pumping ocean water instead.

[@dingowingo7977]

Lake Gatun is their main source of drinking water so i dont think you wanna be mixing salt water into that

[@bobbyvillanueva2091]

I know costs would still be considerable but why not use sea water for the canal? As a plus, sea water is more bouyant and readily available.

[@hoots187]

The lake being in existence made creating an artificial saltwater lake more expensive. The neopanamax canal has water reclamation in their locks, however the normal panamax locks have no water reclamation support.

[@codingwithzak09]

Can we just *appreciate* the high quality production and research of these vids. Definitely an *underrated* channel.

[@Kamome163]

Thank you so much🥹

[@Hirohito_iLoveYou]

Literally the first time I came across this channel….I’m gonna check it out 🤨

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

I Must Agree!! The narration, and quality of graphics is Superior!!!

[@chcgo2undaground]

Badly informed, but under-rated.....

[@dcc70]

Don't forget in a war with China, Japan will be on the US side. During WW2 the US did not have an equivalent ally in the Pacific, and the Chinese navy today does not pose the same threat the Japanese imperial navy did back then.

[@Kamome163]

In a symmetrical conflict I totally agree with you. I think the main issue with the Panama Canal is in the case of emergencies and surprise attacks scenarios where you need all the assets on short notice

[@cookiemonster9445]

Amazing vid as always.

[@Kamome163]

Thank you cookie!!🥹

[@evoxpop2088]

The PRC is vested in the Panama Canal. The amount of capital investments(lots and lots of money) and goodwill they have thrown to the government and politicians in the past 20+ years is so incredible that they wanted their embassy to be in the grounds of the Panama Canal but the panamenians (the people) protested. Can't remember the whole story, but remember seeing "a field of red flags (chinese flags)" nearby the Miraflores locks neighborhood. I was visiting Panama at the time.

[@jeffbenton6183]

One of the three bridges over the canal was recently built by China.

[@dougpage2730]

Sounds like a good time to modernize our west coast ports.

[@ppumpkin3282]

Don't worry, Pete Buttiegeig will get right on it, after he comes back from family leave.

[@dingowingo7977]

I dont think it has anything to do with the ports but more where all the factories are, the eastern coast. As the video said about 90% of all the supplies for the Pacific theaters had to go through the Canal, i found it very surprising that it was more used for movement of supplies not warships

[@JamesGreenier]

I’ve lived in Panama. It’s always raining.

[@JamesGreenier]

@@FirstLast-tp8bm haha

[@shreyaslahoti7542]

great documentary!

[@Kamome163]

Thank you so much🥹

[@blafonovision4342]

Honestly, how is the PLA going to get to the Western Hemisphere in the first place?

[@alexelsworthy4445]

Would love to see these videos on Nebula

[@scottanos9981]

Excellent animations 👌. However i doubt China could project power even past Japan or India once we strangle the Persian Gulf oil route for them, as they do not have nuclear carriers and rely heavily on oil imports.

[@Bailytusu]

you’re thumbnail look so cool 😎

[@usshill721]

9:44 A little weird seeing the Renhai look so small when compared to the Burke lol.

[@CodyMoore74]

I dont usually say this, but this channel has some of the top 5% graphics and visualizations for edutainment creators and uses that ability to cover unique and important stories. The fact that you only have 100k is criminal. Definetly going to be one of the creators over the next year.

[@Kamome163]

Thank you so much Cody!

[@JoelReid]

However, China relies on the Panama Canal for mining resources from Brazil. If they did not use Brazil, they have to negotiate the same resources with Australia, who is a US ally.

[@Kamome163]

Good point!

[@walli6388]

5:22 That's why those countries have strategic oil reserves.

[@roberteischen4170]

What if we stop dumping millions of gallons of freshwater into the ocean with each ship? Seems awful wasteful to me.

[@rubylaser8601]

Why does it have to be freshwater? If just using the sea water, what would happen? Does Suez Canal also use freshwater?

[@Ryanandboys]

It didn't prevent $400 M per hour in trade it just delayed it a week or 2. It was a big deal but not as big of a deal as the media made it out to be.

[@Kamome163]

I Guess you’re talking about the Suez blockade there. I think the main issue there is that those two weeks have had rippling effect throughout the manufacturing and supply chains that lasted way longer than the 2 weeks it took to recover the navigation on Suez

[@Ryanandboys]

@@Kamome163 Yeah that is true, I still stand by that it wasn't that big of deal but definitely was not good. I just think the $400M number is misleading that's all. It's roughly like saying if I am driving a semi truck filled with microchips and I have a breakdown and can't deliver them for a week or 2 that x amount of dollars of trade was missed when infact it was delayed and that does have a cost but much smaller cost probably on the order of 10-15%. That's all otherwise keep up the good work the videos are great 👍👍

[@alsedro507]

Ok dry seasons are not becoming more frequent because of climate change.... this happens due to a cycle called El Niño which makes the dry season longer and occurs every 3 years (more or less) and it has been happening since forever - source: I live in Panama and it has always been like this.

[@jezusbloodie]

Holy shit you leveled up your 3D environments big-time! Im only at the intro and already convinced this will be, editing wise, your best video yet.. I love your maps so much too. The crispest of geopolitics youtube

[@Kamome163]

❤️❤️❤️

[@viciousKev]

If a conflict arose that required the strategic use of the canal, the droughts would miraculously cease.

[@kamanpowers]

You failed to bring up that modern us nuclear aircraft carriers still are unable to pass through the canal as they are too wide due to their sponsons. In which case, a carrier strike group from the East Coast will still have to take a different route to the Pacific.

[@TheGrindcorps]

In a crisis supplies and logistics could be significantly be hindered though. That is just as important as a carrier battle group in prolonged conflicts.

[@Kamome163]

We talk about that around the ending of the video. The issue there is that nuclear powered vessels can steam through at max speed without compromising range, unlike conventionally powered vessels, like its escorts and supply ships

[@sydneystout4003]

@@TheGrindcorps it'll be faster for supplies to be transported by rail to the West Coast before loading them on ships to cross the Pacific. Another alternative is to dig a sea level canal across the Mexican Isthmus of Tehuantepec, but the US will not be allowed to have full control over it, given the past history of the US-Mexican relations. In any case, any war with PRC won't be long, so supplies r being & will be prepositioned on US bases in Indo-Pac. & Australia.

[@TheGrindcorps]

@@sydneystout4003 it will be a lot harder to do that

[@sydneystout4003]

@@TheGrindcorps still easier to use rails & ships, & le$$ + faster than the Nicaragua Canal. A longer route is across the Atlantic & Suez canal to Indo-Pacific.

[@nathanielmoran1819]

Gets coffee* "It must be the second week of the month: new Kamome day."🎉

[@Kamome163]

Thank you Nathaniel🥹

[@UTubeISphere]

2019 was the last time the canal was affected that way as per quick Google (euronews article): 'In 2019, fresh water supplies dropped to just three billion cubic metres - a long way short of the 5.25 billion needed to operate the canal.' (Sorry if this is covered later in the video.)

[@N238E]

Poseidon torpedo has entered the chat.

[@looinrims]

Is there a reason desalination plants can’t be constructed for the lakes?

[@jmfa57]

Cost.

[@looinrims]

@@jmfa57 military necessity and global trade have no cost, besides they would provide nice jobs to the area too as well as their construction

[@Kamome163]

It’s not just the desalination plants but you need to build the infrastructure to pump the water upstream where it’s needed. I think a more feasible solution would be a new water management system esp for the old locks which consume much more than the newer

[@KarelGut-rs8mq]

@@Kamome163 The water is needed at the locks, not at the lakes. The locks would work just as well with seawater as with freshwater. If seawater were pumped back into the the reservoirs for the new locks and the old ones closed then there would be no problems with rain water being able to fill up the lakes again.

[@marjus89]

The problem with China is that it can target the Panama Canal directly with weapons through sea, airborne and space/orbital systems. Even a minor strike would shut down transit for a time until a response can be formulated/implemented.

[@brendanshannon1706]

That's very unlikely due to how much China exports. Furthermore, the US would easily be able to get a naval coalition to block the Malacca strait in retaliation which would decimate Chinese trade.

[@romell06]

It would still need a barrage of conventional ICBM to destroy the canal and US can deploy ABM on the canal. Destroying the canal is the least of their priorities.

[@Kamome163]

Without going at such lengths, even a sabotage could make the canal unusable for a while.

[@curtbowers7817]

If the ChiComs did that their made made islands would be sunk with B1 and B2 strikes. Their oil tankers in the Malaca straight would be quick targets quickly bringing their economy to a halt.

[@curtbowers7817]

The US Navy would easily control both ends of the canal in a conflict with the ChiComs. The US would cut chinas oil route in the Malaka Straight immediately. And Chinas economy would stop then and there

[@scottmarquardt3575]

How much of the water is panama city taking? Is anyone helping the scariest city in the world, San Pedro sulu?

[@philswiftreligioussect9619]

China's way too far away though.

[@stevenjoy3537]

Can't they fill the lakes with saltwater and pump that to the locks. Make an overspill so any fresh-water 💧 can go back to the sea

[@andrewlankford9634]

If China could take control of the canal. If.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

To be fair the US has not used the canal for it's military in decades because Super carriers don't fit and if they don't then a battlegroup can't either... And not only that modern USN/MC ships are really fast and have long ranges so the canal really hasn't been missed.

[@Kamome163]

Those are good points and that’s why I think the main problems are two: The cases were ships are required to be scrambled during an emergency and sustaining long supply lines from the US East coast to Asia

[@walli6388]

​@@Kamome163Well, at that point it would probably be faster to either fly the stuff over or railway it from one coast to another before shipping it. With military requisition they can get a lot of stuff on those gigantic trains used in the us.

[@warrenpuckett4203]

Plus widening the canal was a idea for commercial shipping. Navy ships do not travel in straight lines. But they do when establishing rite of passage. The last times US subs went through the canal was in 2017 and 2022. I think there may be more than two subs.

[@mharley3791]

@@Kamome163while US has terrible passenger rail, it’s has great freight rail for this very purpose. Also most of US naval assets for the pacific is either forward deployed in Korea, Japan or Guam, or coming from California. And then there are the 150 US bases abroad.

[@poodlescone9700]

The Panama Canal needs to use sea water for at least half of its locks to conserve the fresh water. This also means the Northwest Passage becomes a strategic asset for the US Navy.

[@lanetatom2701]

Isn't the NW passage only usable a certain few months of the summer?

[@hellboundchaoscommand7567]

(Sniff sniff) I smell freedom in the near future for Canada

[@TheGrindcorps]

You know they can only get back to the Pacific Ocean by going through China and Russia that way at the Bering Strait.

[@Kamome163]

@@TheGrindcorps exactly!

[@Kamome163]

But how do you pump all that sea water upstream? How much would that cost?

[@Dragonite_Tom]

could they just make a new canal through Nicaragua if this one fail to reverse the issue?

[@Kamome163]

Iirc that project was estimated in the $50bn a few years back. And IG that was a conservative estimate for sure

[@UTubeISphere]

That was a Chinese 'private' initiative first announced in 2013 and begun in 2014, but then significantly slowed down or petered out. Last article (very quick Google) goes back to 2018.

[@grandcrowdadforde6127]

Odd to think theres an 85 ft difference between the Atlantic && Pacific Oceans....so which one s the REAL sea level with the other being higher?

[@KarelGut-rs8mq]

There is no difference between the two oceans. It's the land in Panama that is 85 feet higher than the two oceans. The ships are first going uphill through locks then at the other end they go downhill through locks.

[@JuaniAlva]

Didn't expect a video about my country here. The current hydric crisis is serious but I hadn't considered how it would affect global geopolitics, very interesting video.

[@Kamome163]

Thank you so much, Juan. The changing climate is shaping the current geopolitics for sure. What if these drier months will be more frequent from now on?

[@JuaniAlva]

@@Kamome163 Indeed the climate is changing increasingly fast. At a local level it would be detrimental for the Panamanian economy to have less transit go through the canal due to more frequent droughts, but honestly the panamanian government is very very corrupt so most of that money didn't go to public development in the first place, so it makes a difference for the corrupt elite the most who won't see the same anual revenue they are accostumed to. And at a regional level I actually expect the US to move their asses fast and fix the canal up bc they need it too much for it to be left abandoned so soon. I don't simpatize much with either the Western powers or with China or Russia, but it's always intriguing to see the Chess pieces move across the board.

[@renzoqu]

😂😂😂😂 Eres yankee ??

[@JuaniAlva]

@@renzoqu no que yo sepa, soy de Panamá. Por qué lo dices? Por escribir en inglés en un canal que está en inglés?🤣🤣

[@michaelwhite3688]

deepen a central passage

[@lanahanbrian0]

Gonna have to build desalination plants, there’s no alternative.

[@seandawson5899]

With the collapse of the Panama canal due to climate change, control of the Bering straight and the Northwest Passage will become vital. The opening of the Northwest Passage year round due to climate change will cut the current trip from the east coast of America to the east coast of China by days.

[@Kamome163]

💯

[@rmf9567]

Candida and the United States, are already on top of that

[@bryanshort4422]

I was just gonna say bring in the engineer's lol. Was my first thought

[@sociolocomtsac]

Why can't they use ocean water, or re-use the fresh water?

[@Kamome163]

Think of it as bringing billion gallons of water up a 8 story building for each time a ship traverse the Canal. Now multiply that by the 30-40 ships that use the Canal every day. That’s doable but the cost could be huge.

[@abelardobal8903]

I think that there are also environmental concerns related to the water supply to the cities located next to the canal and also to the effect of salty water on the organisms that live in Gatun Lake, which is the upstream freshwater lake in the Panama Canal.

[@markcook927]

simply pump the water in duh.

[@walli6388]

12:20 They could also just scramble ships from the middle east

[@eberry023]

Polar route will be open by then.

[@tarody3953]

Please kill the background music, it's not necessary.

[@dulio12385]

This was actually tackled in an old alternative history manga in the early 2000s; Yamamoto gets sent back in time when he is assassinated and the first thing he does is not attack Pearl Harbor but instead destroy the Panama Canal. That said, there is a silver lining. The thing that's draining the canal is also opening up the Arctic Passage year long, so there might come a time where the Panama Canal becomes less viable than just taking the long way around up north since you wouldn't have to fall in line to squeeze through a narrow passageway.

[@looinrims]

Ask insurance companies how they feel about letting their ships sail near Russian waters though…

[@glint6070]

@@looinrims Good point. Panama is pretty much the U.S's backyard, while the Arctic is a shared space

[@StickyKeys187]

The thing, being climate change? Just say the word 😂

[@dulio12385]

@@knobjockey76 An analysis that came out 15 years ahead of this video and presented it in a memorable way.

[@dulio12385]

@@looinrims Probably much better than the ones covering ships sailing through Hormuz and the Horn of Africa. Those places are flanked by unstable regimes who are unwilling or incapable of abating piracy whereas the arctic is bordered by four NATO countries, all of whom are maritime powerhouses.

[@walli6388]

2:24 Can't they just use salt water?

[@nicamy8988]

but why do they need to only use fresh water? surely there can be a way to use sea water for even parts of it if not half or all. or why is the fresh water not cycled into offset storage and recycled back into the lakes? or what about just mixing the last section of the locks with fresh and sea water so you reduce the loss of the vast majority of fresh water? this seems a little easier to answer than its put forward

[@ppumpkin3282]

Whatever happened to China's attempt to build a competing canal through Nicaraugua.

[@Kamome163]

Too many logistical problems IMO

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:02: 🌍 Global warming and climate change are causing low water levels in the Panama Canal, impacting trade and potentially affecting US Navy capability. 2:55: ! Due to scarce rainfall, the water reserves of Alejuela and Gatun Lakes in Panama have been critically depleted, leading to stricter draft restrictions in the Panama Canal. 5:46: 💡 Ground News is a comprehensive news site that breaks down news stories, provides political bias and factual information, and offers international perspectives. 8:54: 🌊 The video discusses the naval conflicts between the US and Japan in WWII and the current naval competition between the US and China. 12:35: 🚢 The US Navy and Panama Canal authorities are working on a $2bn plan to ensure the Canal remains operational for the next 50 years. Recap by Tammy AI

[@alternativewalls4988]

Maybe this will finally convince congress to start doing something about climate change

[@Kamome163]

Totally. I think this needs more recognition and action

[@thanasisrks4944]

Talk about how climate change will affect Russia. That would be very interesting...

[@Kamome163]

I’m already planning a Arctic video! That’d be cool. Pun intended 😜

[@SteppesoftheLevant]

Thats why mexico has been revamping the tehuantepec isthmus, sure it wont be like a canal, but it will help.

[@Kamome163]

That’s be an interesting alternative tho not for the USN ships

[@jimclatfelter]

I could do without the drumbeat!

[@ArnoldTeras]

Please help Taiwan, guys!! PLEASE!! 【China🇹🇼 China🇹🇼 China🇹🇼 China🇹🇼 China🇹🇼】

[@J_X999]

Videos on US weaknesses are not good for your channel. I recommend a return to videos about China, the more negative the better 😂 Only joking, I LOVE 💕 your channel at the moment, keep it up 👍

[@thku4grace]

Drought? Ocean drought? What ever happened to rising oceans?

[@Kamome163]

That’s a another issue. In Panama the drought is for freshwater in its upstream lakes

[@monkeeseemonkeedoo3745]

Probably naive thought. Why not use salt water, from the oceans themselves, to raise the levels when ships need to pass? Would need to build new infrastructure, but I can't imagine any shortage then.

[@gotseoul123]

Just stumbled across your channel. Quality content, subscribed!

[@Kamome163]

I’m glad that you liked it! Thanks!🥹

[@home_def]

Relying on rain instead of engineering and irrigation? 🤡🤡🤡

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

A VERY Interesting Scenario!!! I haven't EVEN thought about Global Warming as an issue with the "Canal".......I was thinking that China would move forces TO the Canal, in which case...they would Get SMASHED!! No Joke, being able to pass by JMSDF in That area with their Much more modern forces (than in the pass), passing by Guam theater, then passing by Hawaiian bases, approaching the West Coast of the US....No joke, no Chance! Those forces would be withered away! BUT THIS Scenario..... I would have to look up our assets in Guam, Hawaii and West Coast, and We do Have part of the US Fleet (the 7th) in Japan. BUT we also have a small fleet of DDGs/CGs in ......... the Persian Gulf........ US 5th Fleet! SO.... Would Global Warming be an issue in US Fleet deployments through the Canal...........Maybe.....not. The United States Navy is VERY WELL Deployed with Amphib Ready Groups (ARG), and Carrier Battle Groups (CVBG), assorted DDGs and CGs and a Very Capable Support Group of re-supply ships. How do I know............USN Veteran 20+ years, who worked out plans of Taiwan/South Korea Defensive Plans. BUT, this was Very interesting Scenario!!!

[@phil20_20]

We should be a lot better with our neighbors. Canada is good because of our long history with England, but the Spanish are a different story. There are still a lot of hard feelings in Mexico preventing us from fully utilizing the continent. Sort of like the Confederates. They still dream of retaking the lost lands of their ancestors. Life doesn't work that way. You can't go back in time, only forward.

[@bogreen1872]

Just dredge out the bottom allowing more room for more draft. Hard yes. Impossible no.

[@benmcreynolds8581]

Okay, it will be highly energy dependant BUT they could build a modern advanced nuclear energy option for providing power to the new needs of the canal. The power source could support multiple assets (pumps, desalination, connection to alternative energy options, etc) It will at least give us time to figure out what to do next from here?

[@jeffbenton6183]

I wonder if desalination plants could help with this (though someone would have to pay for it)

[@gabetalks9275]

Why don't they just dig a pipe underground to refill the reservoir with ocean water? That sounds like a simple solution to me.

[@CuriousPersonUSA]

US aircraft carriers are too big for the canal right and they travel of an escort of at least 6 other ships (destroyers, cruisers, and/or submarines). So, for US power projection the canal usefulness is limited. For logistics and smaller ships its a different story. If there is a US-China conflict there is a good chance that China would "try to" attack the canal to put it out of commission.

[@morbid747]

Why attack thr canal if a few large container ships are sunk at the canal blocking all passage ? It's cheap and efficient .

[@CuriousPersonUSA]

@@morbid747 that is an attack on the canal!

[@Tony-1950]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@davidfisher5140]

CCP can't do anything big without telegraphing their punches at least 4-6 weeks out. In 4 weeks a Virginia based battlegroup can be anywhere in tge world without tge canal. Deploying east coast vessels to thr Indian Ocean would be more devastating than adding more vessels to the Pacific cat n mouse missile match. (Like playing Battleship in many ways). Doubling India's naval power by adding a US battlegroup would put a massive ch9kehold on CCP imports of needed war supplies, especially oil. Forward basing US fighters, antiship missiles & air defenses in Philippines & Japan would be a nightmare for CCP aggression in the region. CCP would cause the most damage by firing 1000s of missiles at neighbors. They could land on Taiwan but could not secure it due to insufficient resupply & reinforcement. At first, they migtt even have limited area air superiority, but they could never sustain it.

[@davidfisher5140]

@@Sw-fu4gg You need to look again. I won't bother. U seem very young & poorly informed though intelligent & capable of better. You made many claims that indicate CCP goals but not success. Then at least two false assumptions about USA. Your post sounds like CCP trolling but my gut tells me you are simply a person who fed in such somewhere. It's possible I'm wrong, but in over 2.5 decades og govt service, that never happened- though a few events I wasn't specifically looking at did surprise me.

[@davidfisher5140]

@@Sw-fu4gg Arg, a glitch just erased my prior reply. I will try to retype it in pieces. I do not consider it possible to have biased facts, only biased opinions that affect the selection of preferred facts. (No, not a directed comment, just generalized. It is actually super common in my country, sadly. That is a key US weakness, the media-caused mass stupidity) For the record, your English seems excellent to me.

[@davidfisher5140]

@@Sw-fu4gg Since u asked: 1. Isolation. I think u meant land mass connection. The thing is the only shortages USA would have in a CCP conflict are those things we foolishly choose to import from them today. I hope Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, India & Indonesia get all those factories. Rare earth metals are the only natural resource in the world USA does not possess in sufficient quantity, but a certain close US ally owns enough for at least 100 years. The only reason we import resources is politics. Literally, one of our political parties bans indigenous production to then import resources from CCP, UK & others. The only strategic "resource" USA might be short on is the top tier chips but it was US tech that built that industry and we still have enough indigenous production to support government & utility use. It is the leftists in silicon Valley who would suffer the most from that shortfall.

[@davidfisher5140]

@@Sw-fu4gg 2. Panama Canal. It is literally an irrelevant issue for USA and has been for a very long time. That is the key reason we gave the canal to the Panamanians. We keep separate merchant & naval fleets for both oceans like Russia tries to do with its 4 fleets based in its 4 ocean access points. I thought I was clear, but maybe not? A carrier in Virginia can affect CCP in just 4 weeks. That is barely more time than one in California would take to sail to CCP waters across the Pacific. I won't explain the reasons for that other than to hint: the straight line is very operationally crooked, but the crooked line is actually much more straight than geography seems to dictate. I should probably also hint you examine those attempts CCP is making to bypass the naval choke points. There are numerous choke points on their other routes plus they must make numerous cargo shifts (each one loses cargo while costing time & money). Then there is the issue of the Himalayas. They are slight speed bumps for ground transport even with all the new tunnels & roads. CCP is well aware of those troubles; I am certain of that.

[@davidfisher5140]

@@Sw-fu4gg There are dreams, then there is reality. War is painful. The difference between perspectives is public vs private. Most consumer goods currently built by US companies in CCP governed territories can be replaced within 30 days by actual factories in operation right now (at limited worksheet capacities) in Europe. It might take 3-6 months for US & Canada to make up the critical shortages I will NOT publicly mention, but they are consumer goods, not critical strategic goods. The interconnectivity of international markets is a very good argument but to fully understand it is to understand it's actually very much a web w numerous options. It sounds like u do indeed have a preferred belief system driving your selection of facts. I consider u a friendly person so I tell u what I see as a friend would. Next to USA, CCP is but barely arrived on the economic stage. I think they know this & for many reasons they are not foolish enough to rusk open world warfare. Their regime is nearly 100% destined to be destroyed if they do so for very simple ECONOMIC reasons. ALL the primary customers that drive the CVP economy are the exact same ones that they would wage war against. While they have taken enormous strides in desert greenification to provide the foods needed indigenous (some amazing feats actually!) Food security isn't the primary problem, nor is oil (secondary). The primary destruction comes from a sudden lack of need for raw materials from Africa & Brazil because the entire civilian economy evaporates overnight. The US luxuries lost a begin with blenders, drills, EV & other car parts, solar power components & iphones but the CCP luxuries lost would begin with pork and civilian HVAC fuel. As an experienced government analyst, I don't believe CCP is stupid enough to gamble upon the sorts of things u say. They can only beat USA in peacetime, never in war. Mind u, USA WILL FALL, but not from war w the CCP upstarts. USA will collapse internally, but trends suggest the bad spending & powerplay habits of the communists will likely cause an economic collapse there first. The prospect of US falling should terrify the world bc USA has been the Great Stabilizer since 1918 (contrary to popular propaganda). When USA collapses it won't likely be world War, but 100 regional wars that destroy the world. A multipolar world is actually a VERY BAD THING bc all factions then vie for supremacy in a multitude of ways. The innocent peasants worldwide get swept along & ground to dust. Then from such world devastation, a new power will emerge, one who is handed the leadership of a world government vastly more powerful than the failed UN ever hopes to become. It's evil human nature & the greed of a tiny majority of would-be tyrants that will drive the world to vast wars & famines, not "climate change." The tech already exists to feed not 8 billion but 30 billion ppl but luxury goods & private land ownership are impossible while doing so. My prediction? There's a strong likelihood 70% of the world's consumer electronics will disappear within 3 years of such cataclysmic events. U likely won't accept what I just said but consider this, in over 25yrs of government service, every single prediction I made both tactical & strategic came true. Very few others can make that same claim. I was surprised by several things, but they were things outside my realms of responsibility & expertise. I don't make idle claims and I HATE the fear of being wrong. Honestly, I hedged my bets in circumstances where the facts available didn't reach my thresholds of absolute certainty. Since I just made a public dramatic prediction, that should scare you. Some who know me would be 10% terrified to hear it but others have similar abilities & have already come to similar conclusions. I know bc I quietly communicate w them in their home countries. Don't be part of the vulnerable masses. Seek ways to avoid notice of the powerful players whole providing minimal security for your family. I am 100% certain, not 90-95% of the underlying future history.

[@timmyhoward6638]

Plop a patriot, ground launched Harpoon battery, and maybe one of those fancy new Typhon missile launchers and you’ll be good to go.

[@ryanrhodes3909]

You said “WHAT IF” way to many time in this video.

[@Strykenine]

It's important to note that the largest warships, the Nimitz and Gerald Ford class carriers, are too large for the canal anyway. They go the long way around, via Cape Horn or Magellan.

[@Kamome163]

True. But those can steam through at max speed without worrying about range, thanks to the nuclear propulsion system. However the main issue would be with the conventionally powered ships like their escorts and supply ships, which regularly use the Canal

[@chcgo2undaground]

FYI there is an Atlantic and Pacific fleets....@@Kamome163

[@HokkaidoSan]

Panamese!?!? Well I learned something new today. I've been saying Panamanian but why say that when Panamese is shorter. 😂

[@TacticalGAMINGzz]

No u

[@mahmudmarsudi4430]

US should do more railroads....instead depend on panama canal

[@jacobs9483]

all the US needs to do is take control of the panama canal in the event of a global war we have done it once no reason we cant

[@Shadowgunner785]

Finally a Latin American Video!!!!! It took you over a year to do this!!!!!! But still fascinating to thing how climate change is heavily affecting geopolitics, especially for the United States. As always great job Kamome 👍, and on a side note "DO MORE VIDEOS ON LATIN AMERICA!!" thank you 😌. Not back to the super secret discord I go

[@Kamome163]

Alpha!!! Can’t wait for the South America desk😂

[@hilestoby2628]

Kamone, your videos animates are the best I have seem in regards to maps and perspectives. Keep you the good work.

[@Kamome163]

Thank you so much🥹

[@KinokoCardano]

Ohhh whatttt!!!! Let’s go LETS GO! *\(^o^)/*

[@Kamome163]

Kinokooooooo!!! 行こう！！！

[@Marilynschannel]

Save the trees 🌲

[@spongebobsucks12]

We need better cross state transport in the United States. We should not be this reliant on a single choke point in the Caribbean of all places. It made more sense when we were more willing to control the region under the Monroe Doctrine. Now with Chinese influence infiltrating our backyard, the canal is becoming more of a liability than the boon it once was. We need to bring the Mississippi back online and start building more train tracks out west to the ports, as well as expanding the ports to take in more quantity. Between the interstate highway system, Mississippi river system, and the cross continent railway system we should be able to get goods everywhere in the country. The canal should be akin to icing on the cake, not the freaking cake itself...

[@xjdisuehd]

Rather than a new water managem system, and ultimately still relying on locks - current system has a limit on how much water can be reused, and a significant amount is thrown into the ocean after each ship passes. Blast through and bring down the levels equal, like with the Suez canal.

[@Kamome163]

That might be going a bit overboard with the solution😂 Apart from navigation the Panama Canal lakes are used for energy generation and as freshwater reserves for human uses

[@xjdisuehd]

@@Kamome163 that is 100% true. But the man made reservoirs are large enough to have structures (earth, lines with trees) and to have a sufficiently wide, self supported without retaining walls a equal level - deep panama canal instead of a locking mechanism. If course some areas will be lost to saltwater. But you're talking about 'national security and protection of military, trade and geopolitical interests of The United States of America '. All rational thinking is out of the water.

[@Kamome163]

@@xjdisuehd I understand what you’re saying and I also think the national interest reason is a strong motive to upgrade the canal. Perhaps upgrading the 100 years old Panamax locks could be a more feasible and most importantly more time efficient solution 😵‍💫

[@xjdisuehd]

@@Kamome163 the canals have already been upgraded and can handle much bigger ships than previously. This is why we have Panamax and New Panamax. But how the canals work - you can only reuse about 50% of the total water or so - and the locks use freshwater from the reservoir. So a drought is a double whammy - the water levels are lower because there is no water replenishment but also, the water is still being used up and drained into the oceans because of the way that canals work.

[@richarddecker9515]

Sea level canal is the best option

[@t23001]

Excellent video. The people of the U.S. have no taste for war with the PRC. We’ll honor our security commitments. However, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. need to boost their defense spending and cooperation tremendously and rapidly. A Pacific version of NATO is warranted. You need to be strong enough that the PRC generals and admirals will alway recommend against starting a war.

[@Kamome163]

Oh a Pacific version of NATO uh?! Interesting

[@williamfeng7980]

Hope the war will start sooner than later.🎉

[@Kamome163]

@@williamfeng7980 well, let’s hope there will be no war, but I think it’s important to look at all the possible scenarios that might happen

[@phanihunt]

Can we ever liberate tibet?

[@Kamome163]

👀

[@user-os7pm7fj7d]

00:17 "Panamese" hahah I'm pretty sure it's Panamanian.

[@patriot-wf1er]

Funny i just saw video on china building its own canal im Guatemala

[@Kamome163]

IMO that’s a project quite far from seeing the light of day

[@williamdaniels9728]

There is some opportunity and precedence for a Nicarguan canal to be created. Better for the Americans to broker and create the canal than the Chinese. Everybody would benefit. Nicargua's economy would skyrocket possibly to the highest in Central America (excluding Mexico) and Nicargua could integrate itself into a North American Union.

[@chrissartain4430]

Everything is about china , so why doesn't anyone Truly know what china is about ??

[@d.7611]

US Aircraft Carriers cannot pass through the canal anyhow.

[@hildablanco1591]

And China Russia Iran Korea Vietnam have hypersonic missiles in cuba

[@Kamome163]

now?!

[@ciccioaporta3774]

The canal's strategic importance has long since waned. Modern ships are too big to go through.If there is a new canal constructed , it will be through Nicaragua.

[@PepsiAddict9]

In the words of Stannis Baratheon: ... fewer containers... . But, it is a great, well-made, and informative video. I will subscribe.

[@Kamome163]

😂

[@dragon26ist]

That new larger lock system was a terrible plan it is clear.

[@roberteischen4170]

Ah HA! so maybe that's why China is so fixed on coal.