President Gustavo Petro spoke out after the future president of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened to regain control of the Panama Canal if the transit rates charged there were not reduced.
(Read more: Panama Canal: Trump threatens to demand its return due to ‘exorbitant fees’)
Through his X account, the Colombian president showed his support for Panama, signaling that he will be on their side “to the last consequences.”
“Until the last consequences I will be at Panama’s side and the defense of its sovereignty. “If the new US government wants to talk about business, we will talk about business, face to face, and for the benefit of our people, but dignity will never be negotiated,” indicated the head of state.
President Petro also pointed out that his American counterpart was contradicting himself, since taking away the canal from Panama could lead to an even bigger migration crisis on the continent. “If you do not want myriads passing through the Darién, increased by millions from Panama to Mexico, you must understand that it will depend on the prosperity and freedom of our peoples,” stood out.
Along the same lines, he emphasized that if the president-elect of the United States finds it expensive to pay to pass through the Panama Canal under current conditions, “it will be much more costly to plunge Panama, South America, Central America or Mexico into poverty.”
Until the last consequences I will be at Panama’s side and the defense of its sovereignty.
If the new US government wants to talk about business, we will talk about business, face to face, and for the benefit of our people, but dignity will never be negotiated.
President Trump has…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) December 22, 2024
Petro’s rejection joins other statements that have been made regarding the issue, including that of the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, who through a video expressed his intention for the river passage to continue being Panamanian.
“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas belongs to Panama and will continue to do so. “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”expressed Mulino.
Panama Canal
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Trump’s statements
Trump’s accusations took place in a speech at a forum of the ultra-conservative organization Turning Point in Phoenix (Arizona). At the event, the future American president denounced that his country is suffering a “scam” by those who manage the Panama Canal, which is why will demand its return if there are no changes in the rates.
“The tariffs that Panama charges are ridiculous, especially considering the extraordinary generosity that the United States has shown towards Panama,” projection.
The elected president also added that “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of generosity are not respected, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States. (…) Therefore, officials of Panama, I ask you to be guided accordingly.”
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