Trump's Canal Claim Sparks Panamanian Fury

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of lying to Congress about the Panama Canal. In his State of the Union address, Trump claimed that the U.S. is "reclaiming" the canal, which was built with U.S. funding and opened in 1914. Mulino responded to Trump's remarks, stating that the U.S. president was "lying" and that his comments were "unfounded and baseless."

The Panama Canal, a vital waterway for international trade, was transferred to Panama in 1999. It is a major source of revenue for the country, generating billions of dollars in tolls each year. The canal's expansion, completed in 2016, has allowed it to accommodate larger ships and increase its capacity. Trump's remarks have been criticized by Panamanian officials and experts, who argue that they are an attempt to distract from domestic issues and a violation of international law. The U.S. has not provided any evidence to support its claim to the canal, and Panama has repeatedly rejected any suggestion that it could be reclaimed.

Mulino emphasized that the canal is a symbol of Panamanian sovereignty and that any attempt to reclaim it would be met with strong resistance. The Panamanian government has repeatedly asserted its control over the canal and has taken steps to ensure its continued operation and maintenance. The canal's importance to Panama's economy and national identity makes any challenge to its sovereignty a sensitive issue.

The U.S. played a significant role in the construction and operation of the Panama Canal, but its control over the waterway ended in 1999. The transfer of the canal to Panamanian control was a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed in 1977, which aimed to resolve long-standing tensions between the two countries over the canal's status. The treaties established a timetable for the transfer of control and the payment of compensation to the U.S. for its investments in the canal.

The U.S. has maintained a presence in Panama since the canal's construction, but its role has evolved over time. The U.S. military maintained bases in Panama until 1999, when they were closed as part of the transfer of the canal. The U.S. continues to provide assistance to Panama in areas such as drug interdiction and counterterrorism, but its relationship with Panama