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Panama’s president has responded to President-elect Trump’s idea that a new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal.
Panama’s conservative president, José Raul Mulino, released a video after President Trump said on Sunday that the United States “foolishly ceded the canal” and is now being “ripped apart” by the canal. , declared that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and always will.” Belonging to his country.
Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino referred to Trump’s complaints about increased tolls for ships crossing the canal, saying tolls are set by experts, taking into account operating costs and supply and demand factors. .
“Tariffs are not set on a whim,” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has “voluntarily” expanded the canal over the years to increase shipping traffic, adding that increased shipping fees would help pay for the improvements.
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President-elect Donald Trump speaks at America Fest in Phoenix on Sunday, December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Scutelli)
“Panamanians may have different views on many issues,” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal and our sovereignty, we will all unite under the Panamanian flag.”
President Trump responded on his social media site: “We’ll see about that!” He also posted a photo of an American flag planted in the canal zone with the words, “Welcome to the American Canal!”
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A cargo ship transits the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, on September 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
President Trump previously mentioned the canal in a Truth Social post on Saturday, complaining at length about the fees charged to U.S. ships passing through the Big Ditch. Panama Canal tolls range from three to six figures, depending on the size of the ship and the amount of cargo it carries, with the largest ships charging as much as $500,000.
Opening of the Panama Canal locks. (Danuta Hamlin)
The United States built the canal in the early 1900s, looking for a way to ease the passage of commercial and military vessels between coasts. Under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on December 31, 1999.
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The canal relies on reservoirs to operate its locks and was significantly affected by the 2023 Central American drought, which forced drastic reductions in daily vessel traffic. With fewer ships using the canal by the day, administrators have also increased the fees charged to all shippers to reserve a slot.
Although the weather returned to normal and canal traffic normalized later this year, prices are still expected to rise next year.
Fox News’ Andrea Margolis and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
