Panama President Rejects Trump’s Threat of Taking Back Control of Panama Canal: ‘Not Negotiable’
Panama’s president shot down President-elect Donald Trump’s threat on Sunday that the US would call on the Central American country to cede control of the Panama Canal if it continued to charge “exorbitant” fees to use the critical shipping channel.
Panama President José Raúl Mulino came out swinging against Trump’s suggestion that the US could demand it regain control of the century-old waterway when he assumes office next month.
“I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama, and will continue to,” Mulino said in a statement posted on social media.
“The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable. Every Panamanian, here or anywhere in the world, carries it in their heart, and it is part of our history of struggle and irreversible conquest.”
Trump first made noise about the key route on Saturday before he addressed the topic again during a speech Sunday at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest. (Read more from “Panama President Rejects Trump’s Threat of Taking Back Control of Panama Canal: ‘Not Negotiable’” HERE)
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