At UN, Panama raises alarm over Trump’s declare to retake management of Canal

Panama has raised considerations with the United Nations over US President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech, during which he mentioned that america would “take again” the Panama Canal.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres, Panama’s UN Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba cited the U.N. Constitution saying that nations should chorus from threatening or utilizing pressure in opposition to the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

The letter was circulated to the 15-member Safety Council, the place Panama holds a seat for the 2025-26 time period which is accountable for sustaining worldwide peace and safety.

Doubling down on his pre-inauguration menace to reimpose U.S. management over the canal, Trump on Monday accused Panama of breaking the guarantees it made for the ultimate switch of the strategic waterway in 1999 and of ceding its operation to China – claims that the Panamanian authorities has strongly denied.

”We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it again,” Trump mentioned simply minutes after being sworn in for a second four-year time period.

Alfaro de Alba shared Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino’s rejection of Trump’s remarks.

”Dialogue is all the time the best way to make clear the factors talked about with out undermining our proper, whole sovereignty and possession of our Canal,” Mulino mentioned.

The USA largely constructed the canal and administered territory surrounding the passage for many years. However america and Panama signed a pair of accords in 1977 that paved the best way for the canal’s return to full Panamanian management. The USA handed it over in 1999 after a interval of joint administration.

With inputs from businesses