Panama has insisted that its sovereignty over the Panama Canal is “non-negotiable” after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military force to seize it.
Trump made the remark during a news conference on Tuesday at which he also falsely stated that the Panama Canal was being operated by Chinese soldiers.
Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha responded by saying that “the only hands operating the canal are Panamanian and that is how it is going to stay”.
In his news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump described President Carter’s decision to hand the canal back as “a big mistake”.
He also expressed renewed interest in buying the Arctic island of Greenland – which is a self-governing territory of Denmark – as well as the Panama Canal.
US President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military force to seize the Panama Canal, prompting Panama to insist that its sovereignty over the waterway is “non-negotiable.”.
In addition to making the false claim that Chinese soldiers were running the Panama Canal, Trump made the comment during a press conference on Tuesday.
According to Javier Martínez-Acha, Panama’s foreign minister, “the only hands operating the canal are Panamanian and that is how it is going to stay.”.
After decades of American management, the Panama Canal was turned over to the Panamanians on December 31, 1999, as per a treaty signed by the late US President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Trump called President Carter’s decision to return the canal “a big mistake” during his press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday.
He also stated a renewed interest in purchasing the Panama Canal and the Arctic island of Greenland, which is a Danish territory with its own government.
“No, I can’t assure you on either of those two,” he said when asked by reporters if he would rule out using economic or military force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal. “..”.
The president-elect made no offer to Panama, according to the country’s foreign minister.
“It is untrue what Trump said today about having discussed a specific sum of money. To be clear, we have not received any kind of offer,” Martínez-Acha stated.
The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is a part of our history of struggle and irreversible conquest, he continued.
José Raúl Mulino, the president of Panama, has not yet responded to Trump’s most recent comments.
However, he assured those present that “it will stay in our control forever” during a colorful ceremony on December 31st commemorating the 25th anniversary of the canal’s transfer to Panama.
“There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God,” President Mulino said in response to Trump’s accusations that the canal is somehow influenced by China.
The US government is led by Joe Biden until January 20th, his administration emphasized. We will begin dealing with Mr. Trump and his administration on January 20.
“Panama is eager to work with the various governments and keep good relations with them.”. “.
