Official statements from the U.S. government or President-elect Donald Trump

Panama Rejects Trump's Threat to Reimpose U.S. Control Over Canal Amid Protests and ALBA's Condemnation

Dec 24, 2024, 09:39 PM

Panama has rejected a threat from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to reimpose U.S. control over the Panama Canal. The rejection was voiced by Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino and echoed by past leaders of the country. Protests erupted in Panama City against Trump's remarks, with demonstrators burning images of Trump and the U.S. flag outside the U.S. Embassy. The protests were in response to Trump's demand that Panama reduce tolls for U.S. ships or face the possibility of the U.S. reclaiming control of the canal. Mulino emphasized that the canal's status is non-negotiable, asserting Panama's sovereignty over the waterway. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) also condemned Trump's statements, supporting Panama's sovereignty and territorial integrity.