Thu Jan 30 16:19:26 UTC 2025: ## Panama Rejects US Talks on Canal Control; Rubio Visit Planned
**Panama City, Panama** – Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has firmly rejected any negotiations regarding the control of the Panama Canal with incoming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is scheduled to visit Panama in the coming days. Mulino stated unequivocally that the canal is Panamanian territory and any discussion about relinquishing control is non-negotiable.
This statement comes in direct response to US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the canal is being unfairly operated by Panama and, without evidence, that China is exerting undue influence. Trump has publicly stated his intention to reclaim control of the waterway, even hinting at the potential use of military force, a claim he has since refused to confirm or deny.
Mulino dismissed Trump’s claims of Chinese control and overcharging of US ships, emphasizing that the Panama Canal Authority, a Panamanian entity, manages the canal and generated nearly $5 billion in revenue last year. He also stated that Panama has received no information from the US regarding alleged Chinese military presence in the area.
While rejecting discussions about canal control, Mulino indicated that other issues, such as migration and drug trafficking, will be on the agenda for discussions with Rubio during his upcoming visit. The US and Panama share a complex history, marked by the US construction and subsequent control of the canal until 1999, as well as the 1989 US invasion of Panama. This visit will be Rubio’s first foreign trip as Secretary of State.
First Piper 