Panama's President José Raúl Molino has rejected the threat from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding reclaiming control over the Panama Canal.
On Saturday, Trump accused Panama of "unfair" treatment towards American ships and threatened to take back control of the canal. He stated, "If Panama cannot ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the channel, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us completely and without question."
In response, President Molino posted a video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, asserting, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas is owned by Panama, and it will remain so." Notably, Molino did not mention Trump by name in his statement.
Trump, through his social media platform Truth Social, claimed that American ships and trade have been treated very unfairly and unjustly, describing the tolls charged by Panama for using the waterway as "ridiculous." He also expressed concerns over China's growing influence around the Panama Canal, viewing it as a worrisome trend for U.S. interests.
The Panama Canal is vital for U.S. commerce, serving as a key route for shipping goods. Trump emphasized that the canal was meant solely for Panama's management, not for China or anyone else, and vowed never to let it fall into the wrong hands.
Panama, a Latin American country, is an ally of the United States. The U.S. played a significant role in constructing the Panama Canal and controlled its surrounding areas for several decades. After a period of joint administration with Panama, the U.S. fully transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999.
The 82-kilometer-long Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is one of the world's most crucial artificial waterways, alongside the Suez Canal. Without the Panama Canal, ships traveling from the U.S. East Coast to the West Coast would have to navigate around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, adding approximately 15,000 kilometers to their journey.