“This is sealed”: Panama President said that there is no discussion with our canal | Political News
Jose Raul Mulino said Panama would not control the Panama Canal during the visit of Marco Rubio.
Panama President Jose Raul Mulino excluded the control of the Panama Canal with a discussion on the Panama Canal with the US diplomat who will visit the American American country.
Mulino also reiterated on Thursday that he rejected the allegations of US President Donald Trump that the canal that is about to associate with the Pacific Ocean is operating by China.
Trump has promised to control the strategic waterway, which is essential for trade.
Murino said to reporters: “I can't negotiate, let alone openness. This is a process of negotiating the canal.” “This is a sealed. The canal belongs to Panama.”
Several American media reported that Rubio will go to Panama and other countries in the next few days, which is the first foreign trip to US Secretary of State.
The United States helped build the canal and control the canal when it was completed for the first time in 1914.
Trump prioritizes it as a foreign policy, claiming that there is no evidence to show that Panama charges US vessels and allows Chinese military in the canal.
When Trump was asked earlier this month, when he would exclude the use of military forces to achieve this goal earlier this month, Trump told reporters: “I will not be committed to this goal.”
The US president also emphasized this problem in his inauguration.
He said: “American vessels are seriously charged without in any way, shape or form, including the US Navy.” “The most important thing is that China is operating the Panama Canal. And we did not give it to China. It was handed over to Panama, and we took it back. “” “.”
According to the Panama Canal Administration operating the waterway, the Canal's revenue last year was nearly $ 5 billion.
Mulino said on Thursday that Panama did not receive information from the United States from “military existence allegedly in another country in the canal”.
He said: “The Panama Canal is controlled by Panama, and its government has been in the hands of Panama.”
Murino added that there were other problems in Panama during the visit to discuss with Rubio, including immigrants and drug trafficking.
Panama is sitting at the southern end of Central America and borders Colombia. Many immigrants from South America cross Panama to the US border.
The United States invaded Panama in 1989 and was then the then President Manuel Noriega, and Washington was accused of drug trafficking.