After Trump’s Threats, Panama Offers Free Canal Passage to U.S. Warships
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Panama’s government has promised to give free passage to U.S. warships through the Panama Canal, a U.S. official informed Bloomberg on Sunday. The bilateral U.S.-Panama treaty on canal operations requires neutral treatment for vessels of all nationalities.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has pledged to “take back” the Panama Canal Zone, which was wholly controlled by the United States for more than 70 years. The canal was transferred to Panama by treaty in 1977, and the handover was completed in 1999. Trump has accused Panama of allowing China to influence the canal’s operations, and has demanded certain changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They\u2019ve agreed to certain things, but I\u2019m not happy with it,” Trump said on Sunday. “We either want it back, or we\u2019re going to get something very strong, or we\u2019re going to take it back.”<\/p>\n
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the canal on Sunday and observed the operations of the Miraflores locks, accompanied by Canal Administrator Ricaurte V\u00e1squez Morales. After the visit, the authority confirmed that it wanted to “optimize transit priority of U.S. Navy vessels through the Panama Canal.”<\/p>\n
Panama’s government has also promised to review the lease arrangements for two Chinese-owned terminals on either side of the canal, both controlled by Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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