PANAMA CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian scholars depicted as "ridiculous" U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat on Saturday to take back the Panama Canal.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Panama Canal plays a "critical role" in the U.S. economy and national security. He demanded Panama reduce fees on the canal or return it to U.S. control.

"It is ridiculous," said Jones Cooper, a professor at the University of Panama. Panama is the rightful owner of the canal, and the United States has no legal basis to reclaim it, he added, noting that the United States profited significantly during its occupation, while Panama gained little in return.

Julio Yao, a Panamanian international relations scholar, called Trump's comment the latest example of the American "big stick" policy. He emphasized that the Panama Canal must not be returned to the United States.

According to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed in 1977 by the then-Panamanian president Omar Torrijos and then-U.S. president Jimmy Carter, Panamanians recovered their sovereignty over the canal on December 31, 1999. ■