Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stated on Thursday, January 30, that there will be no negotiations with the United States regarding ownership of the Panama Canal. He expressed hope that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit would focus on shared interests such as migration and combating drug trafficking.
Rubio’s visit, his first overseas trip as an envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, has drawn significant attention, especially given Trump’s past remarks suggesting the U.S. should reclaim the Panama Canal.
On his inauguration day, Trump claimed that U.S. ships were being “severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form,” adding that “above all, China is operating the Panama Canal.” He had previously stated that the U.S. could demand the canal’s return.
At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Mulino sought to downplay tensions, aiming to clarify misconceptions about China’s involvement in the canal.
“It’s impossible, I can’t negotiate,” Mulino said when asked about returning the canal to U.S. control. “That is done. The canal belongs to Panama.”
The Panama Canal was built by the United States in the early 1900s to facilitate commercial and military transit between its coasts. Control of the waterway was officially transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.
“My only goal is to clear all the garbage from the path, clean the table, and have an open conversation with the United States” about key issues like immigration, security, and the fight against drug trafficking, Mulino said.
Rubio is set to meet with Mulino on Sunday, February 2.
