Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, has stated that there will be no negotiations about the ownership of the Panama Canal. The comments came during a press conference on Thursday, where Mulino expressed his desire to focus on shared interests with the United States, including migration and combating drug trafficking.
Mulino’s remarks were seen as a response to US President Donald Trump’s previous claims that the US should retake control of the canal, citing “severely overcharged” shipping fees. However, Mulino clarified that the canal belongs to Panama and that any future discussions would be focused on cooperation rather than ownership.
The Panamanian president acknowledged that he wants to clarify confusion about China’s role in the canal, which is managed by a Hong Kong consortium at both ends. He also expressed frustration with his predecessor for establishing diplomatic relations with China without his knowledge or consent.
Mulino will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday and visit the Panama Canal, which was built by the US in the early 1900s and transferred to Panamanian control in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter. The two leaders are expected to discuss issues beyond the canal, including immigration and security concerns.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/panama-canal-us-rubio-mulino-a3b1ccdf2fe1b0e957b44f1cf7a9fcfe