In a letter to the United Nations seen by Reuters, Panama warned against US President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech in which he promised the United States would regain control of the Panama Canal.
The Ambassador of Panama to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, pointed out that, according to the fundamental Charter of the UN, countries “in their international relations should refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”.
The letter was addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and forwarded to the 15-member Security Council. Panama is a member of the Council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, in 2025 and 2026.
Trump had already said before his inauguration that he would re-establish US control over the canal, and on Monday he stepped up his threats, accusing Panama of breaking promises it made for the final transfer of the strategic waterway in 1999, and of handing over its operations to China. The Panamanian government has vehemently denied the claims.
“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama and we’re going to take it back,” Trump said just minutes after being sworn in for a second four-year term.
Alfaro de Alba shares the view of Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulin, who rejected Trump’s statements. “Dialogue is always the way to clarify the mentioned points without undermining our right, full sovereignty and ownership of our channel,” said Mulino.
The United States built most of the Panama Canal and ruled the territory surrounding the passage for decades. But the United States and Panama signed several agreements in 1977 that paved the way for the return of the canal to full Panamanian control. The United States handed it over to Panama in 1999 after a period of joint administration.
(Vijesti.ba/HINA)
