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The Panama Canal's history dates back to the early 20th century. After supporting Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, the U.S. signed a treaty granting it sovereign rights to the canal area in perpetuity. For nearly a century, the canal served as a cornerstone of U.S. maritime strategy, enabling quick naval mobilization and securing essential trade routes. However, growing Panamanian nationalism culminated in the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which gradually transitioned control of the canal to Panama by December 31, 1999, and established its permanent neutrality.