The president-elect of the United States has criticized the passage fees imposed on American ships which he considers “ridiculous”. But the President of Panama, José Raul Mulino, responded firmly.
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Panamaa Central American country, has had full sovereignty over its canal since 1999 after an agreement signed with the United States by Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1977. A point that Donald Trump seems to have forgotten. But Panamanian President José Raul Mulino recalls this in his response published on X, without explicitly mentioning Donald Trump:
“ As President, I want to make it clear that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to it. The sovereignty and independence of our country are non-negotiable. »
“ The canal is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by China, the European Community, the United States, or any other power. As a Panamanian, I firmly reject any expression that distorts this reality “, declared Mr. Mulino, in a video on his X account, without explicitly mentioning Donald Trump.
This statement follows the threat made on December 21 by Donald Trump on his Truth Social network: “ Our navy and our commerce are treated in a particularly unfair manner (…) The (passage) fees that Panama charges are ridiculous “, declared the Republican, who must succeed Democrat Joe Biden on January 20. “ This total scam of our country will stop immediately “, he promised.
Trump worried about China’s growing influence
And when the future tenant of the White House worries about China’s growing influence on the passage that connects the Caribbean to the Pacific, José Raul Mulino corrects: “ There is no direct control of the canal by China, the European Union, the United States or any other power. » A clear statement: the canal is and will remain Panamanian.
To this, Donald Trump responded with a barely concealed threat on his Truth Social network: “ We’ll see that. »
Despite Donald Trump’s declarations, José Raul Mulino hopes to have ” a good and respectful relationship » with the future American administration, to address subjects such as illegal immigration or drug trafficking.