‘This is seal’: The Panama President says that there is no discussion on the canal with us. Political news

Panama will not negotiate the control of the strategic Panama Canal during Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit, Jose Raul Mulino says.

Panaman’s President Jose Raul Mulino has refused to discuss the control of the Panama Canal with the top United States diplomatic Marco Rubio, which is ready to visit the Central American country.

Mulino on Thursday also reiterated the rejection of US President Donald Trump’s charge that the canal – which connects the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean – is being operated by China.

Trump has promised to control the strategic waterway, which is important for business.

“I can’t talk, very less open, a process of conversation on the canal,” Mulino told reporters. “This is seal. The canal is of Panama. ,

Several US media outlets have reported that Rubio will visit Panama and other countries in the coming days, which are in their first foreign trip as the Secretary of State for US State.

The US helped to build the canal and controlled it when it was first completed in 1914, but a 1977 Treaty set a platform for the US to hand over the full control of Panama’s waterway in 1999.

Trump has obtained the canal a top foreign policy priority, claiming that the Panama is overcharging American ships and allowing Chinese military appearance around the canal.

Earlier this month, when asked if he would rule the use of military force to achieve that purpose, Trump said to reporters: “I am not committed to it.”

The US President also emphasized the issue during his inaugural speech.

“American ships are being severely overcharged and are not treated properly in any way, size or form, and it also includes the Navy of the United States,” he said. “And above these, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we did not give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we are taking it back. ,

According to the Panama Canal Authority, the waterway agency, the canal, generated around $ 5BN in revenue last year.

On Thursday, Mulino said that Panama has not received any information from the US about “the alleged military appearance of any other country in the canal”.

“The Panama Canal is controlled by the Panama, and its administration has always been in the Panamanian hands,” he said.

Mulino said that Panama has other issues to discuss with Rubio during his visit, including migration and drug trafficking.

Panama sits on the border of Columbia, at the southern end of Central America. Many migrants in South America travel through Panama to reach the American border.

The United States invaded Panama in 1989 to avoid the then President Manuel Noriega, who accused Washington of drug smuggling.