Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Panama Canal should return to U.S. control. In a video statement, Mulino declared the canal belongs solely to Panama, emphasizing its sovereignty and independence as non-negotiable.
“The canal is not under direct or indirect control by any power,” Mulino said, countering Trump’s remarks at Turning Point’s “America Fest,” where he claimed Panama’s fees for canal usage were excessive and unfair. Trump suggested taking swift action to reclaim the canal if Panama failed to treat the U.S. “fairly,” adding, “We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else.”
Mulino defended Panama’s tariffs, which range from $0.50 to $300,000 based on vessel size and purpose, noting they are determined through public hearings and account for market conditions and operational costs. He highlighted Panama’s successful management and expansion of the canal in 2016, which has bolstered global trade and economic growth.
Despite Trump’s criticism, Mulino expressed a willingness to collaborate with the incoming U.S. administration on shared priorities, including security, illegal migration, and organized crime. However, he reiterated that Panama’s sovereignty and the canal’s ownership are non-negotiable.
“We Panamanians may think differently on many issues, but when it comes to our canal and our sovereignty, we all unite under a single flag,” Mulino stated.
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