"The canal belongs and will continue to belong to Panama", Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said today in response to Donald Trump, who in his inauguration speech, shortly after being sworn in, promised to "regain" control of the Panama Canal, reported Agence France-Presse.
"I must completely reject the remarks made by President Donald Trump ... the canal belongs and will continue to belong to Panama", Mulino said in a statement published on the "Ex" platform.
Having barely taken office as president, Donald Trump today promised to regain control of the Panama Canal, promising to ensure that the United States is once again "respected" around the world and emphasized an "America First" foreign policy.
He said he wanted to "take back" control of the Panama Canal, built by the United States and transferred to Panama in 1999. "The intent of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been completely violated," Trump said.
"We have been treated very badly for this meaningless gift that should never have been made. Panama's promise to us has not been kept," he said.
"American vessels have been overtaxed and not treated fairly in any way, including the United States Navy," Trump said.
"And most importantly, China runs the Panama Canal, and we did not give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And we will take it back," the American president emphasized.