Donald Trump, via Truth Social, demanded free passage for US military and commercial ships through the Panama and Suez Canals, arguing the US was crucial to their creation. He tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio with addressing this demand.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino countered that the Canal's transit costs and regulations are governed by the Neutrality Treaty and the Organic Law of the Panama Canal, specifying that no agreements contradict this. He emphasized that any cooperation should adhere to these established norms.
Trump's statement reflects his repeated calls for the US to regain control of the Interoceanic waterway, citing the presence of Chinese operators in nearby ports as a concern, a claim Panama has refuted. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's earlier visit affirmed Panama's sovereignty over the canal.