Panama takes Trump’s Canal threats to UN, President Mulino says ‘it wasn’t a gift from US’

Panama has approached the United Nations (UN) regarding US President Donald Trump’s threats of annexing Panama Canal with the use of force.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Panama referred to an article of the UN Charter that bars “the threat or use of force” against the territorial integrity or political independence of a nation and said “worrying” threats from Trump should be discussed at the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The letter, however, did not call for a meeting of the UNSC to be convened.

In a related development, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has rejected Trump’s assertion that the United States had gifted the canal to Panama.

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“We reject in its entirety everything that Mr Trump has said. First because it is false and second because the Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama. The Panama Canal was not a concession or a gift from the United States,” said Mulino at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In rhetoric that rivals the revanchist agenda of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump has continually threatened Western countries with invasions and annexations in recent weeks. He has threatened to attack Greenland to annex it, use force against Panama to annex Panama Canal, and has called for Canada’s annexation as well.

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In his inauguration speech, Trump invoked the annexation of Panama and said that “we are taking it back”. He said that the US ships transiting the canal are charged more than the others and falsely said China is operating the canal, not Panama.

“We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” said Trump.

Panamanian President Mulino was quick to respond. Shortly after Trump’s speech, he issued a statement rejecting Trump’s call for annexation and said the canal “is and will continue to be Panama’s and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control with respect to its permanent neutrality”.

Even as Panama has rejected Trump’s remarks and has approached the UN, it has announced “an exhaustive audit” aimed at “ensuring the efficient and transparent use of public resources” at the Panama Ports Company that manages the canal, according to AFP.

While China does not manage the canal, a Chinese company manages two ports on the canal and the audit would determine whether the company was complying with its concession agreements, including adequate reporting of income, payments, and contributions to the state, as per the news agency.