Panama speaks out after Trump threatens to seize control of Panama Canal

Sputniknews, President-elect Donald Trump said on January 8 that a plan to regain ownership of the Panama Canal for the United States is under consideration.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Trump emphasized: "The Panama Canal issue is currently being discussed with them."

In response, Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez on the same day denied Mr. Trump's statement, affirming that the country's government under the leadership of President Jose Raul Mulino has never had any official or unofficial contact with the US President-elect or his team.

According to Foreign Minister Vasquez, after Mr. Trump takes office, relations between Panama and the US will be adjusted through “official and regular channels”.

“The sovereignty of our Canal is not a matter for discussion and is part of our history, our struggle and our irreversible achievements. The mission of the Canal is to serve humanity and commerce. This is one of the greatest values ​​that the Panamanian people bring to the world: a commitment to the international community not to participate and not to be a party to any conflict, while affirming that the Canal “is solely in Panamanian hands and will remain so,” the Foreign Minister of Panama stated.

Earlier, on December 22, Mr. Trump announced that he would demand the quick return of ownership of the Panama Canal to the United States due to the high cost of trade. This politician emphasized that the Panama Canal is vital to the trade of the world's largest economy, as well as the rapid deployment of the US Navy in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

For his part, the Panamanian president criticized Mr Trump's comments as showing a serious lack of historical knowledge.

He reiterated that the Panama Canal is fully state-owned under the 1977 treaty and national sovereignty is not a subject of negotiation.