Trump’s statements on the Panama Canal: An attempt to revive an unwanted past for Panamanians

Posted by by United World International January 13, 2025 7 Min Read

The usually domestically divided country united against the US President’s statements.

By Roman A. Atencio, Magister in Economics and International Trade and PhD student in World Economy at the Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship University – Patrice Lumumba.

The recent statements by the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, that he will seek to regain control of the Canal if the fees that our country charges American ships for transiting through this waterway, which he called a vital national asset of the United States, are not reduced, have generated a wave of rejection reactions both in the general population and in members of the government. But for Panamanians, these are more. There is a long history between both countries, which has left Panamanians with deep scars that they do not want to repeat.

Trump’s words touched on a very delicate point in the life and history of Panamanians, managing to unite a population, fragmented by internal political discussions, in a proclamation of homogeneous patriotic vindication and on a very delicate date, since this December 31, 2024, marks 25 years since the recovery of the route at Panamanian hands. In addition, the date is very close to two other days of national mourning, caused by the United States: The invasion on December 21, 1989, and the day of the martyrs on January 9, 1964.

Let me give some context about how important the second date, Martyrs’ Day, is for Panamanians: A people’s movement demanded the presence of the Panamanian flag in the territory known as the Canal Zone, the strip of land around the Canal, which we had ceded to the United States in perpetuity through the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty in 1903. The day is called Martyrs’ Day because of the death of some 22 protesters. When they tried to raise the flag, a confrontation started by the Americans, who began to sing the United States anthem and to reject the presence of the Panamanians, causing the Panamanian flag to end up in pieces on the ground. This event helped in the negotiation of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

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The history of relations between the United States and Panama in the last century is full of shady moments that have left their mark on the minds of Panamanians, which is why these statements generated a general rejection almost instantly and an immediate response from the government and various national associations.

The first to make statements was President José Raúl Mulino, who said that “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas belongs to Panama and will continue to do so.” Former presidents, former Canal administrators and opposition parties also expressed their opinions, who also highlighted its efficient administration and shouted, “we are sovereign.” The local media, with dozens of opinion columns every day, had texts with the same sentiment. Business associations also described the statements as an “attempt at foreign interference” and the Chamber of Shipping recalled that the Canal is “an inalienable heritage of the Panamanian nation.”

Panama Canal administrator Ricuarte Vásquez Morales also expressed his opinion, focused on responding to Trump’s demands: “Giving preferential treatment to American ships passing through the Panama Canal would violate the neutrality treaty, international law and lead to chaos. The rules are the rules and there are no exceptions,” said the administrator of the interoceanic waterway.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha, stressed that the Panama Canal has always been characterized by providing a service to global maritime trade and not taking part or being an active part in any type of conflict. “The only hands that control the Canal are Panamanian, and that will continue to be the case. We are a country open to dialogue, investments and good relations, but with the clear motto that the country comes first.”The foreign minister said that Panama is fully willing to cooperate and maintain the good relations it has had throughout history with the United States.

Trump’s words may persuade the American electorate that elected him, but for this humble author and the public opinion both in Panama and internationally, it is clear that what is happening is the decline of absolute American power from the unipolar world that emerged after the disappearance of the former Soviet Union, to the multipolar tripod that we have today, in the face of the emergence and strengthening of new powers and international organizations such as BRICS and the rapid economic rise of China, who by the way is also accused by the American president of being the one who really “controls” the Canal.

While it is not possible to determine whether Trump’s statements will become a reality or are a distraction to hide other issues or a nationalist speech to satisfy his voters, the Panamanian population is simply not able to imagine at this point in history the resurgence of the colonialist ideas against which they fought throughout the 20th century, considered as a matter of national dignity and sovereignty. The proposal to recover, even by force, has been rejected and has caused concern about political stability and the relationship between Panama and the United States. As for the idea of retaking control of the Canal, although it has no legal basis, it must be considered from the geopolitical background of the relations between the United States and China, where probably the real objective is to reduce the influence of the Chinese government in the country.

Cover graphic: Archive of the Panamanian Armed Forces

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