According to experts, the US president uses unilateralism and hegemony as a negotiating tactic to "intimidate countries and extract concessions, mainly that of increasing the US military, political and economic presence."
Panama must appeal to international law to defend the Panama Canal, experts say in response to recent threats by US President Donald Trump to regain control of the Panama Canal.
Upon assuming his second term as US president, Trump insisted again that he would recover the Panama Canal, because the agreement that allowed it to be transferred to Panamanian hands in 1999 was violated in its content and in its "spirit."
STRENGTHEN DIPLOMACY
In an interview with Xinhua , academic Richard Morales recommended that the Central American country can defend the sovereignty of the interoceanic route by forging an international alliance with countries in the Global South, "placing special emphasis on Latin American unity."
According to the expert, Trump uses US unilateralism and hegemony as a negotiating tactic to "intimidate countries and extract concessions, mainly that of increasing the US military, political and economic presence."
In addition, Morales added, the US seeks to prevent countries from having harmonious relations with China, "treating us as if we were a neocolony."
"Panama must refuse to accept any form of blackmail and strengthen ties with countries in the Global South, including China. Diversifying international relations is the best weapon against Trump's threats," he said.
For her part, Maribel Gordón, an economist and professor at the state-run University of Panama, believes that Trump's threats are intended to divert attention from the problems "facing an empire in decline."
The US president, Gordon added, wants to convey his problems and fears regarding the productive progress of global trade that a group of nations, such as China, are experiencing.
All this fear, said Gordón, is causing Trump to act in an "irresponsible manner" by threatening to take back the Panama Canal.
"This is a dangerous situation," he told this newspaper, since the United States is an "empire that is trying to impose or will try to impose its interests by force, as it has done in the past."
Meanwhile, Julio Yao, former foreign policy advisor to General Omar Torrijos, said that Panama should denounce in all forums that the US "is trying to destroy Panama, which lacks armed forces" because the US forced it to dismantle them with its military invasion in 1989.
The country should also ask for support from the BRICS, countries like Russia and China, so that these states can be "guarantors of the true" neutrality of Panama and the interoceanic route, the expert said.
US President Donald Trump refuted Yao, "it is the most aggressive hand of imperialism, hegemonism and unilateralism."
Jorge Luis Quijano, former administrator of the Panama Canal, clarified some of Trump's remarks made during his inaugural speech, stating that "the same tariffs apply to ships from all nations according to their segment and cargo or displacement capacity. These are public," in statements to this agency.
U.S. military vessels are granted expedited passage without the need to use the reservation system, he said.
"US military vessels pay the same travel fee as those of other nations, with the exception of Colombia and Costa Rica, which are only exempt from paying the toll (Treaty of Montería) but have to pay the other charges for transit services," he added.
UN REJECTION
Panama's permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Eloy Alfaro, expressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres the importance of the UN Charter as a guarantee of international relations based on mutual respect and non-intervention.
In a letter sent today, Tuesday, the permanent ambassador of Panama cited Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, referring to the principles that member countries must abide by.
Alfaro highlighted paragraph 4, which states that "members of the organization, in their international relations, shall refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner incompatible with the Purposes of the United Nations."
In the letter, the Permanent Ambassador of Panama also conveyed the words of President José Raúl Mulino, in which he rejects the statements made by Trump during his inaugural speech.
"I reiterate what I expressed in my message to the Nation on December 22: the Canal is and will continue to be Panama's, and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control out of respect for its permanent neutrality. There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration," says the letter, which was released by the Panamanian Foreign Ministry.
THE CANAL IS FROM PANAMA
Gilberto Guerra, who as a student participated in the patriotic feat of January 9, 1964, stressed that the Panama Canal is the property of Panama.
What Trump said in his speech, Guerra said, should be seen as "bragging."
In addition, Panama must form a support front so that countries identify with Panama and reject all of Trump's words.
"President Mulino has said and made it clear that we are not in negotiations. Panama: one territory, one flag."
Panama's Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) criticized Trump's threat to once again demand the return of the interoceanic route.
"It is to ignore that Panama did not receive a gift from the United States for the return of the Canal to Panamanian hands. This was the result of the struggles of generations, of the sacrifice of Panamanians," the group said on its social media account X.
The PRD was founded by the military man and former Panamanian president Omar Torrijos (1968-1981), who agreed with the former US president Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) to transfer the interoceanic canal to Panama.
"The PRD calls on Panamanians to close ranks in defense of our sovereignty and our heritage as a nation. The Canal belongs to Panamanians."
Another critical voice towards Trump's request is the former president of Panama, Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), who said in X that what President Trump says "does not define our destiny."
"Panama is not alone, history is on our side. Sovereignty is the fruit of our struggle. We are supported by reason, we are protected by law, we are driven by the strength of our national unity and international solidarity. The Canal is ours and will continue to be Panama's," wrote the son of General Omar Torrijos.
Meanwhile, the National Council for the Integral Development of Indigenous Peoples of Panama, made up of the seven indigenous peoples of the country, categorically rejected Trump's claims.
"The Panama Canal, today and always, will continue to belong to the Panamanian people," he said in a statement released to the press.
