Panama's president rejects Trump's threat to retake control of canal

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino shot back Sunday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggested the Panama Canal return to U.S. control, The Hill reported. 

“As president, I want to express clearly that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama, and will continue to do so,” Mulino said in video statement, according to an English translation. “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”

“The canal is not under direct or indirect control, neither by China, nor by the European community, nor by the United States, nor by any other power,” Mulino said. “As a Panamanian, I strongly reject any manifestation that distorts this reality.”

“Panama respects other nations and demands respect,” he added.

Trump, on Sunday, suggested to a conference of his supporters that the Panama Canal be returned to U.S. control, vowing swift action over the matter after he takes office in less than one month.

“It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions. You got to treat us fairly and they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said at Turning Point’s “American Fest.”