Political leaders in Panama recently came together to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the return of the Panama Canal following years of US control. The event, however, was overshadowed by US President-elect Donald Trump’s ongoing calls for the US to regain authority over the crucial waterway that links the Pacific and Caribbean.
During the main ceremony in Panama City, President Jose Raul Mulino addressed the crowd, affirming Panama’s sovereignty over the canal in response to Trump’s remarks without directly naming him. Mulino declared, “There are no hands involved in the canal other than Panama’s. Rest assured, it will be in our hands forever.”
Despite Mulino’s statement, Trump has been vocal about his desire for US control over the canal as part of his expansionist agenda. He has even accused Panamanian officials of charging exorbitant fees for canal passage.
In recent posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump threatened to demand the return of the canal to US control if certain conditions were not met, raising concerns among observers about the future of the waterway.
Trump’s statements have stirred controversy and speculation about the future of the canal, which has been a vital maritime route for global trade.
Furthermore, the history of the canal’s control, from Western colonial aspirations to the 1999 transfer to Panama, reflects a complex legacy of power struggles and sovereignty.
A history of control
The construction and control of the Panama Canal have been intertwined with geopolitical interests and territorial disputes for over a century, culminating in the transfer of the canal to Panamanian hands at the end of the millennium.
Remembering ‘martyrs’
The commemorations also paid tribute to those who lost their lives advocating for the canal’s return to Panamanian control, including the students who perished in the tragic events of Martyrs Day in 1964.
Amidst Trump’s allegations and threats regarding the canal’s management, Panamanian officials have denied any involvement of Chinese soldiers in operating the shipping route, emphasizing Panama’s commitment to upholding the terms of the 1977 agreement that secured the transfer of the canal.
