Panamanian President Jose Raul Malino on Sunday dismissed US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent threats to regain control of the Panama Canal over complaints of “unfair” treatment of US ships.
“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent territories belongs to Panama and will remain Panamanian,” Malino said in a video posted on X.
Molino’s public comments, though never mentioning Trump by name, came a day after the president-elect complained about the canal on his Truth social platform.
He said that our navy and commerce had been most unfairly and unfairly treated. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous.
Trump also complained about China’s growing influence around the canal, a worrying trend for US interests as US businesses rely on the channel to move goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
“It was just to manage Panama, not China or anybody else,” Trump said. “We will not and never will let this fall into the wrong hands!”
The Panama Canal, completed by the United States in 1914, was returned to the Central American country under a 1977 treaty signed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter.
Panama took full control in 1999.
If Panama cannot ensure the canal’s “safe, efficient and reliable operation,” Trump said, “we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us completely and without question.”
Molino dismissed Trump’s claims in his video message, though he also said he hopes to have a “good and respectful relationship” with the incoming administration.
Malino said the canal is not directly or indirectly controlled by China, the European Union, the United States or any other power. “As a Panamanian, I reject any manifestation that misrepresents this fact.”
Later on Sunday, Trump responded to Malino’s firing, writing on Truth Social: “We’ll see about that!”