‘That is sealed’: Panama president says no discussions over canal with US

Panama volition not negociate power of the strategical Panama Canal during Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit, Jose Raul Mulino says.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has ruled retired discussing power of the Panama Canal with apical United States diplomat Marco Rubio, who is acceptable to sojourn the Central American country.

Mulino besides reiterated connected Thursday his rejection of US President Donald Trump’s accusation that the canal — which links the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean — is being operated by China.

Trump has pledged to instrumentality power of the strategical waterway, which is captious for trade.

“I cannot negotiate, overmuch little open, a process of dialog connected the canal,” Mulino told reporters. “That is sealed. The canal belongs to Panama.”

Several US media outlets person reported that Rubio volition question to Panama and different countries successful the portion successful the coming days, successful his archetypal overseas travel arsenic US caput of state.

The US helped physique the canal and controlled it erstwhile it was archetypal completed successful 1914, but a 1977 pact acceptable the signifier for the US to manus afloat power of the waterway to Panama successful 1999.

Trump has made acquiring the canal a apical overseas argumentation priority, claiming without grounds that Panama is overcharging US ships and allowing Chinese subject beingness astir the canal.

Asked earlier this period whether helium would regularisation retired the usage of subject unit to execute that aim, Trump told reporters: “I’m not going to perpetrate to that.”

The US president besides stressed the contented during his inauguration speech.

“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated reasonably successful immoderate way, signifier oregon form, and that includes the United States Navy,” helium said. “And supra all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t springiness it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”

According to the Panama Canal Authority, the bureau that runs the waterway, the canal generated astir $5bn successful gross past year.

On Thursday, Mulino said Panama has not received immoderate accusation from the US astir the “alleged subject beingness of different state successful the canal”.

“The Panama Canal is controlled by Panama, and its medication has ever been successful Panamanian hands,” helium said.

Mulino added that Panama has different issues to sermon with Rubio during his visit, including migration and cause trafficking.

Panama sits astatine the confederate extremity of Central America, bordering Colombia. Many migrants from South America question done Panama to scope the US border.

The US invaded Panama successful 1989 to topple then-President Manuel Noriega, who Washington accused of cause trafficking.

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