Panamanians Protest Trump’s Threat to Reclaim Panama Canal

Protesters in Panama burned an image of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday in response to his recent threat to reclaim control of the Panama Canal for the United States. The demonstration, held outside the U.S. embassy in Panama City, drew dozens of people chanting anti-Trump slogans and waving banners labeling him as a “public enemy of Panama.”

Opposition to Canal Threat

Protesters, led by union leader Saul Mendez, rejected Trump’s remarks as imperialistic.

“Panama is a sovereign territory, and the canal here is Panamanian,” Mendez declared. “Donald Trump and his imperial delusion cannot claim even a single centimeter of land in Panama.”

The canal, a vital interoceanic waterway, was built by the U.S. and controlled by Washington until its transfer to Panama on December 31, 1999, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

Trump’s Statement

Trump criticized what he described as “unfair fees” for U.S. ships passing through the Panama Canal and raised concerns about China’s growing influence in the region. He warned that if Panama failed to ensure the canal’s secure and efficient operation, the U.S. might demand its return.

Panamanian Leaders Respond

Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino, alongside former national leaders, firmly rejected Trump’s assertion, declaring the status of the canal “non-negotiable.”

“The Panamanian people have shown that they are capable of recovering their territory, and we are not going to give it up again,” said protester Jorge Guzman.

Historical Context

The canal, inaugurated in 1914, is one of the most important waterways in the world, enabling trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The handover in 1999 marked a significant moment for Panamanian sovereignty.