Escalation of Tensions between US and Panama over Panama Canal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Confrontational Meeting with Panama’s President
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to escalate the Trump administration’s confrontation with Panama on Sunday, telling the country’s leader that President Trump had determined that Chinese "influence and control" over the Panama Canal threatens the waterway and demanding "immediate changes," according to the State Department.
Diverging Accounts of the Meeting
Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, provided a different account of the discussion, saying after the meeting that he did not believe Mr. Rubio had conveyed a threat that Mr. Trump might move to reclaim the American-built shipping route. He said he saw little risk of such an intervention.
President Trump’s Threats
But President Trump, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland about the canal on Sunday, said that "we’re going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen."
US Demands Immediate Changes
The State Department’s summary of the meeting in Panama City, Mr. Rubio’s first with a foreign leader since becoming secretary of state, struck a tone that was sometimes aggressive. It said Mr. Rubio had told his host that Mr. Trump had made a "preliminary determination" that China’s government exercised control over the canal.
Tensions Over Canal Operations
The US and Panama have long had tensions over the canal’s operations, with the US demanding that Panama not allow Chinese influence over the waterway. Mr. Trump has falsely claimed that China "operates" the canal, which was built by the United States in the early 1900s and was operated by Americans for most of the 20th century.
Panama’s Response
Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, said after the Sunday talks that his government would decide what steps to take after receiving the results of an audit of CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based company that operates seaports at both ends of the waterway. Mr. Mulino said he saw little risk of the US taking military action to reclaim the canal.
Secretary Rubio’s Tour of Latin America
Mr. Rubio is touring five Latin American nations on his first trip abroad as Mr. Trump’s top diplomat. He is scheduled to travel on Monday to El Salvador and then to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
Conclusion
The escalation of tensions between the US and Panama over the Panama Canal has raised concerns about the potential for conflict in the region. While Panama’s president has downplayed the risk of US military intervention, the US demands for immediate changes to the canal’s operations have created uncertainty and tension between the two nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Panama Canal?
A: The Panama Canal is a 51-mile shipping canal that connects the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, allowing ships to pass between the two bodies of water.
Q: Who built the Panama Canal?
A: The Panama Canal was built by the United States in the early 1900s, with construction completed in 1914.
Q: Who operates the Panama Canal?
A: The Panama Canal is operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous agency of the Government of Panama.
Q: What is the controversy over the Panama Canal?
A: The controversy over the Panama Canal centers on US concerns that Chinese influence over the waterway threatens US national security and economic interests.