PNN – A group of Panamanians burned the American flag and posters of the President-elect Donald Trump in response to his threat to recapture the Panama Canal.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network from Efe news agency, Following Donald Trump’s threat, Panamanian labor unions, including the National Union of Construction Workers and Similar Industries, appeared in front of the country’s parliament, burned the American flag and Trump’s image, and placed a large sign on the fence near the parliament that read: Donald Trump; enemy of Panama; Yankee animal, drop the channel!
Saúl Mendéz, the head of this most powerful union in Panama, said: We reject the threats of Donald Trump. This territory belongs to the Panamanians and here we exercise our will and sovereignty, our channel and territory. No oligarch or non-oligarch who is a traitor to the country can give up our territory.
He added: No gringo attacker with the illusion of power like Trump can threaten Panama, its territorial integrity, sovereignty and autonomy.
Last Saturday, Trump threatened Panama with “exorbitant” tariffs and said he would retake control of the Panama Canal if the Central American country does not revise its tariffs on American ships.
In response to Trump’s claims, the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, announced that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belongs to this country and will continue to do so.
In response to Trump’s statements, countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Nicaragua expressed their solidarity with Panama.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States and opened in 1914 and operated until it was transferred to the Panamanian government on December 31, 1999.
The Panama Canal was entrusted to this Central American country based on the 1977 agreement signed by former US Democratic President Jimmy Carter, which included the canal’s neutrality and access to world trade. In 1999, Panama took full control of this trade passage.
Trump also criticized Carter for “(stupidly) awarding it (the canal) for a dollar during his presidency” and again claimed that China is interfering in the administration of the waterway, the main user of which is the United States.
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Trump’s claim and threats were raised after the 35th anniversary of the US invasion of Panama (December 20); The US attack on Panama to arrest Manuel Antonio Noriega on charges of drug trafficking left between 500 and 4000 dead.
Also, only a few days are left until the 25th anniversary of the transfer of this waterway.
This is not the first time that Trump has mentioned this channel: in 2023, he first said that the United States sold the route for “one dollar”; in 2011, he announced that the US had “stupidly” given the canal to Panama “for nothing”.
The Panama Canal is an essential part of the country’s economy. In fiscal year 2024, Panama earned about four billion and 986 million dollars in revenue from this channel, which is 1% more than the previous year, and this means a contribution of two billion and 470 million dollars to the treasury.