News
Tuesday 21st January 2025.
January 20, 2025
Panama and its Canal are in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump . In a 30-minute speech during his inauguration ceremony, he decided to send a message that immediately resonated in the country. He reiterated that he is going to “take back” the Panama Canal because, according to him, there is a Chinese presence, and he also complained again about the high price that American ships would be paying to cross the interoceanic route.
“China is operating the Panama Canal. But we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re going to take it back,” the US president said.
La Prensa , together with journalist and political scientist Sabrina Bacal, contacted several voices to analyze the scope of the American president’s message and evaluate what the country should do to prevent Trump’s speech from escalating further.
One of which was Daniel Zovatto, a political scientist and renowned analyst on international issues, expressed his surprise at the recent statements made by former President Donald Trump regarding the Panama Canal. “The Canal is Panamanian, there is a treaty that is irreversible. And this is a line that must be drawn from day zero.”
Zovatto noted that it is unusual for a country like Panama, a strategic partner of the United States, to be the subject of such statements, especially considering its history of cooperation with previous administrations. Therefore, he does not dismiss the possibility that Trump’s narrative may cause concern in Latin America and internationally.
He stressed that the arguments used by Trump are based on erroneous and easily refutable information, which makes his insistence on the issue even more disconcerting.
In his speech, Zovatto stressed the importance of Panama maintaining a firm, calm and well-founded stance in defense of its sovereignty.
Zovatto also recommended that Panamanian diplomacy articulate a coordinated response with the rest of Latin America, emphasizing that the sovereignty of the Canal is not only a Panamanian issue, but a topic of regional relevance.
President José Raúl Mulino rejected the words of the President of the United States (US), Donald Trump , who during his inauguration stated that the Panama Canal will return to American hands.
“I reiterate what I expressed in my message to the Nation on December 22: the Canal is and will continue to be Panama’s and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control out of respect for its permanent neutrality. There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration. The Canal was not a concession from anyone. It was the result of generational struggles that culminated in 1999, as a result of the Torrijos-Carter treaty and, since then until now, for 25 years, uninterruptedly, we have managed and expanded it responsibly,” he said in a statement.
Mulino traveled to Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the 55th edition of the World Economic Forum.
Trump, during his inauguration speech, said that his country spent more money on the construction of the Canal than on any previous project, in addition to losing 38,000 lives in the process, which, in his opinion, justifies questioning the delivery of the ocean route.
The US president also accused Panama of violating the terms of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty that facilitated the transfer of the Canal in 1999. “Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty have been totally violated,” he said, without offering concrete arguments.
He also said that American ships, including the Navy, are being “severely overloaded” and treated unfairly as they pass through the interoceanic waterway.
“China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we will get it back,” he said.
This is another chapter in his list of interventions on the subject, which began on December 21. That day he wrote on his Truth Social network that “ if the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of generosity are not respected, we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in its entirety and without question .”
Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha shared the statement released by President Mulino.
Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha shared the statement released by President Mulino. Last Thursday it was announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama will activate a national risk strategy with the purpose of mitigating any threat to the country as a consequence of Trump ‘s recent statements regarding the Panama Canal .
To implement this maneuver, the Foreign Ministry requested a transfer of $2.5 million from the Budget Commission of the National Assembly. However, the commission suspended the session because neither the foreign minister nor any of the vice-ministers attended.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) expressed its support for the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino , in response to recent statements by the US President, Donald Trump , who once again threatened to return the Panama Canal to US hands.
The president of the CIAP, Juan Arias, defended Panama’s management of the Canal, highlighting its importance as a symbol of sovereignty and an engine of economic development. “Since we assumed its administration in 1999, Panamanians have demonstrated our ability to manage this key infrastructure for world trade with efficiency, transparency and a vision for the future.”
They also rejected any “insinuation that casts doubt on these achievements, which are a source of national pride and international recognition.”
The National Assembly’s Labor, Health and Social Development Committee approved on Monday, January 20, the first block of reforms to the Social Security Fund (CSS), focused on governance and transparency aspects.
Initially, the first block consisted of 50 articles , of which the first was withdrawn for discussion at the end of the process, as these were glossary definitions that must be aligned with the content of the subsequent blocks. On the other hand, consensus was reached on 39 articles.
Yarelis Rodríguez, a deputy from the Vamos coalition and vice president of the Health Commission, detailed the proposals for reform to bill 163 of the CSS. Rodríguez highlighted that there were six articles without consensus and that four of them were relocated to other blocks because they were not related to the legal nature of the CSS or to governance issues. The commission has also incorporated nine new articles.
Finally, the Labor, Health and Social Development Committee reached consensus on four of the six articles that initially generated disagreement. However, two key proposals of the original initiative were not approved: Article 16, related to the number of members of the institution, and Article 17, which establishes the requirements to integrate the board of directors. For the moment, both articles will remain as contemplated in Law 51 of 2005 , unless, once the discussion of the blocks is concluded, new modifications are presented.
The deputy indicated that among the most relevant points approved by consensus is the rejection of the loss of autonomy of the CSS in article 2, ensuring that its budget is incorporated into the general budget of the State without modifications, which guarantees its independence.
Regarding Article 3, the principle of essential public service was eliminated and the public nature of the institution was maintained. In addition, fundamental principles such as accountability, continuity, financial balance, unity and equity were added. Article 12 highlights the implementation of new technological systems to modernize the CSS, facilitating the automation of appointments, supply logistics and quota consultation.
Rodríguez also stressed the importance of Article 19, which establishes that members of the board of directors will have a staggered five-year term without the possibility of immediate re-election. Article 21 strengthens the powers of the board of directors, highlighting the approval of financial statements and their publication in national media, as well as the hiring of external auditors.
Regarding the requirements to be Director General and Deputy Director General, Article 26 establishes that candidates must not have links with companies that provide goods and services to the CSS in the last 10 years. In addition, new responsibilities have been incorporated for the Director General, such as the presentation of annual reports to the National Assembly, detailing activities, programs and audited financial statements.
Article 30 allows for the signing of agreements with security agencies from other countries, subject to prior authorization from the board of directors. Article 35 introduces the Technical Health Advisory Board, which will be appointed by the general director on an interim basis in the event of complaints, with an initial duration of six months, extendable depending on the complexity of the case. As for the new articles introduced, governance rules have been incorporated to prevent corruption, establish reporting mechanisms and guarantee the protection of whistleblowers. The recommendation of the Court of Auditors that funds recovered through patrimonial proceedings be returned to the CSS has also been taken into account.
Another relevant aspect is the obligation to publish the list of defaulters every six months, including the company name, legal representative and outstanding balance. In addition, specific responsibilities have been defined for the members of the board of directors, who must act autonomously and be responsible for their decisions.
Rodríguez urged citizens to inform themselves about these reforms and participate in the debate.
Other members of the Health Committee, such as PRD member Crispiano Adames, criticised the pressure exerted on the committee, stressing the need for a technical and transparent debate.
For his part, Deputy Manuel Cheng acknowledged the existence of these pressures and described them as a lack of respect for the legislative process. Meanwhile, Deputy Miguel Ángel Campos stressed that, after listening to 465 people during the consultation period, it is imperative to prioritize investment in preventive medicine over curative medicine to guarantee the sustainability of the health system.
Deputy Alaín Cedeño called for collaboration between employers and workers to ensure the success of the bill, emphasizing that its approval is crucial for the well-being of the country.
According to the deputies, blocks 2 and 3 of the proposal constitute the backbone of the reforms, addressing key aspects such as the financing and sustainability of the pension system. The debate will continue in the next sessions, although the date of the next meeting of the Health Commission has not been set.