Panama’s top political leader holds ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Panama’s return to the United States panama canal After decades of American control.

But the celebrations took place in the shadows as US President-elect Donald Trump Ongoing call for his country Reaffirm dominance A key waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, a right-leaning leader like Trump, was one of the speakers at Tuesday’s main ceremony in the capital, Panama City.

He assured viewers that the Panama Canal would still belong to his country, rebutting Trump’s claims. Comment No U.S. leader was mentioned by name.

“No one else was involved in the canal except Panama,” Mulino said. “Don’t worry, it will always be in our hands.”

But Trump has increasingly pushed for U.S. governance of the canal as part of his broader expansionist rhetoric.

Earlier this month, Trump joked that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state and reiterated his desire to buy Greenland, an idea he floated during his first term.

But as Trump prepares for re-election on January 20, he has alarmed some observers by threatening to seize the Panama Canal from Panama.

On December 21, Trump posted on his online platform Truth Social, accusing Panamanian officials of charging “exorbitant prices” for canal access.

The canal would allow cargo ships to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without having to go all the way around South America, a dangerous route that stretches thousands of kilometers.

But traffic on the canal has increased in recent decades. It also suffered severe drought, hampering travel through a system of locks: water chambers that could lift and lower ships when the surrounding land was uneven.

However, Trump said in the post that Panama violated the 1977 agreement that created the conditions for the canal to be transferred from the United States to Panama.

“This complete ‘theft’ of our country will stop immediately,” Trump wrote in a statement. first Two lengthy articles. exist second“, he continued to warn.

“If the moral and legal principles of this generous gesture of donation are not adhered to, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in its entirety without question,” he wrote.

“Panamanian officials are requested to provide appropriate guidance.”

history of control

Building a canal across the Isthmus of Panama has always been the ambition of the Western colonial powers.

For example, in the late 1800s, the United States proposed building a canal in Panama (then part of Colombia), but the South American country rejected the deal.

Panama later declared independence, and the United States quickly supported its secession. The United States was the first country to recognize Panama as an independent country.

In return for U.S. support, Panama granted the North American country the rights to build the canal and manage the land surrounding it. The area is known as the Panama Canal Zone.

But critics say the agreement violates Panama’s sovereignty. Finally, in 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed two treaties aimed at returning the canal and surrounding lands.

This transfer took effect on December 31, 1999, exactly 25 years ago.

Carter dies On Sunday, the anniversary is just one step away. Mulino pays tribute On Tuesday, a moment of silence was observed in honor of the late U.S. president.

In his speech, Murino described the “joy of the 25th anniversary” and the “sadness” of Carter’s death.

Remember the “martyrs”

Tuesday’s celebration also honored protesters who lost their lives advocating for the canal’s return to Panamanian control.

Those honored include more than 20 participants who lost their lives in the student protests on January 9, 1964.

On that day, known as Martyrs’ Day in Panama, students at a high school in the Canal Zone attempted to raise the Panamanian flag next to the American flag. Violence broke out, resulting in the deaths of protesters and four U.S. soldiers.

In recent days, Trump defendant Panama is suspected of violating the terms of the canal’s return by allowing Chinese soldiers to operate the route.

But Panamanian officials deny that China has any influence over the canal.

The Associated Press quoted Jorge Luis Quijano, the canal administrator from 2014 to 2019, as saying that Trump’s claim to the canal had no legal basis.

“There is nothing in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said.