The Panama Canal is and will continue to belong to Panama, emphasized the President of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino. He referred in this way to Donald Trump's words during his swearing-in.
On Monday Donald Trump delivered his inaugural speech, during which he announced the “end of the decline” of the United States and the beginning of a “golden age”.
The US president repeated his announcements of “taking back” the Panama Canal, the transfer of which he called Panama a “stupid gift.” He accused the country of violating the terms of the agreement with the US, imposing too high fees on the transit of American ships and allowing the canal to be controlled by China.
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The president of Panama stands firm on Trump's words
Shortly after Trump's speech, a statement from the president of Panama appeared on social media, referring to the words of the US president.
“On behalf of the Republic of Panama and its people, I must completely reject the words expressed by President Donald Trump in his inaugural speech regarding Panama and its Canal. I repeat what I said in my address to the nation on December 22: The Canal is and will continue to belong to Panama , and its administration will continue to be under the control of Panama, respecting its permanent neutrality,” he said.
As he emphasized, “there is no nation in the world that would interfere with our administration.” “We manage and develop it responsibly to serve the world, trade, including the United States,” he added.
“We will use the law that protects us, the legal basis of the Treaty, the dignity that distinguishes us and the strength that international law gives us, as the appropriate way to regulate relations between states. Dialogue is always a way to clarify the above issues without undermining our law, complete sovereignty and ownership of our Canal,” he concluded.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific, is approximately 80 km long. I'm working on it United States completed in 1914, and in 1977 they concluded an agreement with Panama, under which in 1999 they gave it full sovereignty over the canal.
Panama CanalShutterstock
In the last fiscal year, despite drought limiting capacity, the Panamanian government agency that manages the canal reported record revenues of $4.986 billion.
Main photo source: Shutterstock