— We were treated very badly due to this stupid gift that should never have been handed over, and Panama's promise to us was broken. The intent of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been completely breached [...]. Above all, China controls the Panama Canal, and we did not give it to China, we gave it to Panama and we take it back," said Donald Trump.
President Panama answers Donald Trump. “We will exercise the law that protects us”
President Jose Raul Mulino responded to Donald Trump's words. Panamanian politician published an extended message on social media.
"On behalf of the Republic of Panama and its people, I must completely reject the words presented by president Donald Trump in his inaugural speech on Panama and its channel. I repeat what I said in my message to the Nation on December 22: The canal belongs and will proceed to belong to Panama, and his administration will proceed to be under Panama's control due to his permanent neutrality. There is no nation in the planet that interferes with our administration,” says a passage of the message.
President Mulino stressed that the canal was no one's concession — for this it was the consequence of generational struggles culminated in the Treaty of Torrijos-Carter in 1999. Mulino added that since then, the canal has continuously been under Panamanian rule. "We make it responsibly to service the planet and planet trade — including American."
"We will usage the law that protects us, the legal basis of the treaty, the dignity that distinguishes us and the strength that global law gives us, as the perfect way to manage relations between countries and, above all, between allied and friendly countries" “ Mulino wrote.
"Dialogue is always a way to explain the above issues without undermining our rights, full sovereignty and ownership of our channel," stressed Panamanian politicians.
