President Mulino at a press conference on December 26
On December 27, AFP quoted Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino as stating that he ruled out negotiating with US President-elect Donald Trump on control of the Panama Canal, and denied that China interfered in the canal’s operations. this peach.
Mr. Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing fees for American ships, when responding to Mr. Trump’s threat to request the return of control of the important waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
“There is nothing to talk about. The Canal belongs to Panama and belongs to the Panamanian people. There is no possibility of opening any exchanges around this reality, which has cost the country in blood, sweat and tears,” according to the Central American country’s leader.
This canal was inaugurated in 1914, built by the US but was given to Panama on December 31, 1999, according to treaties signed about two decades earlier between then US president Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos.
On December 21, Mr. Trump criticized “unreasonable” fees for US ships passing through the canal and hinted at China’s growing influence.
“It is only for Panama to manage, not China or anyone else. We will never let it fall into the wrong hands,” Mr. Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social and added that the US would demanded the “return” of the canal if Panama failed to ensure “secure, efficient and reliable operation” of the canal.
According to estimates, 5% of global maritime traffic passes through the Panama Canal, allowing ships traveling between Asia and the US East Coast to avoid the long and dangerous route around the southern tip of South America.
The US is the main user of the canal, accounting for 74% of cargo, followed by China with 21%.
“There is absolutely no Chinese intervention or participation in anything related to the Panama Canal,” President Mulino affirmed, while also denying another accusation by Mr. Trump that the soldiers China is illegally operating the canal.
Panama established diplomatic relations with China in 2017, after cutting ties with Taiwan.
