The status of the Panama Canal is non-negotiable, current and former leaders of the country said, after Donald Trump's recent threats to reclaim the waterway.
The article discusses the reaction of Panamanian leaders to former U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about potentially seizing control of the Panama Canal. Trump, during a campaign event, suggested that the U.S. should take over the canal due to its strategic importance, especially in light of China's growing influence in the region. In response, Panama's Foreign Ministry, along with other government officials, issued a joint statement reaffirming Panama's sovereignty over the canal, which was transferred from U.S. control to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. They emphasized that the canal is a vital asset for global trade and that any threat to its neutrality and operation would be met with international resistance. The statement also highlighted the importance of maintaining the canal's status as a neutral zone, crucial for the economic stability of Panama and the world.