Panama stands firm: Mulino rejects Trump's canal threats

The President of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, responded firmly to the threats from US President-elect Donald Trump over taking control of the Panama Canal. In his Sunday speech, Mulino emphasized that every square metre of the canal belongs to Panama and will remain so.

Donald Trump suggested that the United States might take control of the Panama Canal if Panama does not adhere to the terms of the 1999 treaty, under which the USA relinquished control of this strategic route.

"If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question," Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.

In a televised address, Jose Raul Mulino assured that the sovereignty and independence of Panama are non-negotiable. He emphasized that the canal is not controlled by any power, including China, the European Union, or the United States. Mulino categorically rejected any suggestions that might distort this reality.

In response to Mulino's statement, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "We'll see about that!" and then: "Welcome to the United States Canal!".

The Panama Canal, about 80 kilometres long, was completed by the United States in 1914. In 1977, the USA made an agreement with Panama, under which it transferred full sovereignty over the canal to them in 1999. Despite the drought that limited its capacity, the Panamanian agency managing the canal reported record revenues in the last fiscal year, amounting to $4.986 billion.