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Panama President José Raúl Mulino said there will be no negotiation with the United States over ownership of the Panama Canal, and he hopes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming visit will allow them to focus on shared interests including migration and combating drug trafficking.
Being the destination for the first overseas visit by the top US diplomat would have been big for Panama in any case, but Rubio comes as the emissary of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested the US retake the Panama Canal.
On the day of his inauguration, Trump claimed that US ships were being "severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form," noting that "above all, China is operating the Panama Canal." He had previously said the US could demand the canal be returned.
Sailing vessel in Panama Canal anchored with cargo ships in the back (file image). (Source: istock.com)
Mulino tried to downplay the tension at his weekly press conference Thursday. He spoke of wanting to clarify confusion about China’s role in the canal — a Hong Kong consortium manages ports at both ends, but Panama controls the canal – and blamed a predecessor for establishing diplomatic relations with China.
"It's impossible, I can't negotiate," Mulino said when asked about returning the canal to US control. "That is done. The canal belongs to Panama."
The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on December 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.
The commemoration was made more poignant by the death on Sunday of former President Jimmy Carter — who negotiated the 1999 handover deal.
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Today, he declared an immediate end to the country’s "decline" — ushering in “the golden age of America”.
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In an interview with The Associated Press, Ricaurte Vásquez denied Trump’s claims that China was controlling the canal’s operations.
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"The only thing that I want is to clear all the garbage from the path, clean the table and be able to speak with the United States and very frankly” about issues including immigration, security and the fight against drug trafficking, Mulino said.
Rubio is scheduled to meet with Mulino Monday and visit the canal.
