Wed Jan 01 07:18:25 UTC 2025: ## Panama Defiant Amid Trump’s Canal Retaking Threat
**Panama City, Panama** – Panama has forcefully rejected former US President Donald Trump’s past threats to seize control of the Panama Canal, asserting its permanent sovereignty over the vital waterway. Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the canal’s handover from the US to Panama, President José Raúl Mulino reiterated Panama’s unwavering commitment to its control.
Trump’s previous threats stemmed from accusations that Panama levies excessively high fees for transit through the canal. However, Mulino’s speech served as a clear declaration that the canal remains firmly under Panamanian jurisdiction and will continue to do so. The anniversary celebration underscored Panama’s national pride in the strategic asset and its successful management over the past quarter-century.
First Piper 