The Panama Canal has been, since its opening in 1914, a strategic point of interest on global trade routes and a crucial source of revenue for the Panamanian government. Even so, control of this interoceanic waterway was not always in local hands.
For decades, the United States had exclusive administration of the Panama Canal due to the majority role it had in its construction. However, with the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977, Washington ceded permanent sovereignty of the canal to Panama, in what Panamanians call a “milestone” in the country’s history.
Now, this has been questioned by the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, who hinted on Sunday that his new government could try to regain control of the Panama Canal due to the “ridiculous” fees that ships pay to cross it.
But what do history and agreements say?
A unique work of engineering
In 1902, the US government under President Theodore Roosevelt purchased French assets in the Panama Canal Zone for $40 million, when that territory was still part of Colombia.
Rejections of a proposal to construct the canal caused the US to give its support to the Panamanian secession movement, recognizing the Republic of Panama as an independent country on November 6, 1903.
That same year, on November 18, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty was signed, which granted the US possession and control of the Panama Canal zone, and allowed the beginning of its construction.
A decade later, the Panama Canal was officially opened. Its construction prevented ships from having to sail around South America or use the Panama Railway to move merchandise between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Panamanian discontent
US control over the canal meant that a large part of Panamanian territory was in the hands of a foreign government, which generated discontent among the population.
Nationalist sentiments grew and multiple protests over the years gave way to the historical events of January 9, 1964, considered “Martyrs’ Day” in Panama.
On that date, dozens of Panamanian students went to the Canal Zone with their school flag demanding that it be raised. However, they confronted American troops and in the struggle, the flag was torn. This act was seen among the Panamanian population as a lack of respect and gave way to three days of riots that claimed the lives of some 21 people.
As a result, diplomatic relations between Washington and Panama were interrupted, generating international pressure to start negotiations and achieve a new treaty.
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
On September 7, 1977, US President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed the treaties that led to the eventual delivery of the canal by the US to Panama.
Months earlier, Carter fought a battle with the US Congress to achieve the approval and ratification of these agreements, ensuring at that time that “the treaties are essential to ensure the continued and effective use of the Canal for the commercial and security needs of the United States.” .
With this, Panama granted the United States the necessary rights to operate the canal until December 31, 1999. From that moment on, it passed completely into Panamanian hands.
A second agreement, called the Treaty Relating to the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, establishes that the sea route is an “inalienable part” of Panamanian territory and “shall be permanently neutral.”
Both treaties are protected by International Law, so it is unknown how Trump would try to recover this territory already ceded to Panama.
The US continues to be the main user of the Panama Canal, according to the local authority, representing almost 67% of the total cargo transported through this route.
Rejections of Trump’s expressions
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino reacted to Trump’s statements about the possibility of recovering the Canal as an “offence” to his country’s sovereignty.
In a video published by the president, he declared that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belongs to Panama and will continue to be so.”
Trump later took to his social network Truth Social to respond: “We’ll see!” He also posted an image of an American flag placed in the canal area, accompanied by the phrase: “Welcome to the United States canal!”
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, joined the rI hate expressions of Trump assuring that “he has made mistakes and contradicted himself.” While the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, assured that “the Panama Canal belongs to the Panamanians.”
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