Panama President Jose Raul Mulino rallied assist from former presidents in protection of the nation’s canal following threats from Donald Trump to reimpose U.S. management over the waterway.
Mulino met with three Panamanian leaders on Monday, who all signed an announcement asserting the nation’s independence and autonomy over the canal.
“As ex-presidents, we support the the declarations of President Jose Raul Mulino and we unite under the affirmation that the sovereignty and independence of our country and our canal are not negotiable,” the assertion mentioned. It was signed by former Presidents Mireya Moscoso, Ernesto Perez Balladares and Martin Torrijos.
Former directors of the Panama Canal Authority additionally rejected Trump’s remarks and mentioned there isn’t any authorized mechanism by which the U.S. may take again the canal.
Mulino on Sunday rebuffed Trump’s risk to reassert management of the canal over issues of Chinese language affect and extreme tolls charged for U.S. ships. The feud triggered a selloff of Panama’s bonds Monday.
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed solidarity with Mulino on Monday. Mulino mentioned in a publish on X he’s grateful for the assist from world leaders and reiterated “the canal is and will be Panamanian, fostering world trade.”