Panama rejects Trump’s promise to ‘take back’ Panama Canal
Panama’s president has rejected Donald Trump’s plan to “take back” the Panama Canal, telling his US counterpart that the key trade route “is and will remain” in the country’s hands.
In his inaugural address, President Trump claimed that Panama “broke” its promise to remain neutral and alleged that “China is operating the Panama Canal”.
President José Raúl Mulino said he rejected Trump’s words “in their entirety”, adding that “there is no presence of any country in the world that interferes with our administration”.
The Panama Canal is one of the most important trade routes in the Americas, with approximately 40% of the country’s container ships passing through the waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
In the first address of his second term, Trump claimed: “American ships are being taxed excessively and are not being treated fairly in any way, shape or form and that includes the United States Navy.
“And on top of that, China is operating the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”
The US built the canal in the early 20th century, but after years of opposition, President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panama in 1977 to gradually hand back control of the waterway, which Trump described as “a It has been termed a “big mistake”.
In 1999, Panama took full control of the canal with a treaty that it would remain neutral and open to ships of all nations.
Following Trump’s address, Mulino said in a social media post on Twitter: “The canal was not a concession from anyone. It was the result of generational conflicts that culminated in 1999.”
Hutchison of Hong Kong operates two ports on the Whampoa Waterway – Balboa Port on the Pacific side of the route while Cristobal operates on the Atlantic end.
About 5% of global maritime trade passes through the 51-mile Panama Canal.
Last week, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said in a Senate confirmation hearing, “The most legitimate concern is that these companies control both ends of this canal and in times of conflict the Chinese call them ‘ Stop it and don’t go.’ Don’t let America go there’ We’ve got a big, big problem and a big economic problem and a big national security and defense problem.’
In his speech, Trump said he wanted to be a “peacemaker,” but Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Obama, wrote on social media: “You can’t be a peacemaker and not take back the Panama Canal.” Can. “
Along with the Panama Canal, Trump has previously said he wants to acquire the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. Denmark rejected any suggestion of abandoning it.
Trump did not mention Greenland in his address but he put forward his expansionist vision for the next four years.
He said, “The United States will once again regard itself as a growing nation, increasing our wealth, expanding our territory, building up our cities, raising our expectations and raising our flag to new and Takes you to the beautiful horizon.”
