Russia warned President Trump on Tuesday against seizing the Panama Canal, after he reiterated his intent to take control of the strategic waterway in his second inaugural address Monday.
“We expect that during the expected discussions between the leadership of Panama and US President Donald Trump on issues of control over the Panama Canal, which certainly falls within the sphere of their bilateral relations, the parties will respect the current international legal regime of this key waterway,” said Alexander Shchetinin, director of the Latin American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, according to Russian state media outlet, TASS.
“Russia has been a party to the protocol since 1988 and confirms its obligations to observe the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal, advocating for keeping this international transit waterway safe and open.”
Trump’s pledge to take control of the canal has been a central theme of his recent rhetoric, paired with expansionist designs on Greenland, a Danish overseas territory, and apparent tongue-in-cheek references to making Canada the “51st state.”
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal,” Trump said Monday.
Panama has full control of the canal itself, but Hutchison Ports PPC, a Hong Kong-based company, controls two ports at either end of the canal. While Hutchison and CK Hutchison Holdings, its parent company, are not owned by the Chinese government, they are subject to the national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded Monday to Trump’s remarks by rejecting Trump’s vow to retake the canal, saying, it “is and will remain Panama’s and its administration will remain under Panamanian control with respect to its permanent neutrality.”
Here are the top political news stories for today.
When Russia has to be the voice of reason about respecting international law, you KNOW we've entered the twilight zone.
Plot twist: Everyone's suddenly concerned about international law while conveniently forgetting how we got the canal in the first place. The irony is chef's kiss
BREAKING: Man who couldn't handle losing an election now wants to start an international crisis! This isn't "America First" - it's "America Antagonizes Everyone."
The concern about Chinese control over strategic chokepoints is legitimate. The ports at both ends of the canal are controlled by a Hong Kong company subject to Beijing's authority.
Electric Boogaloo" starring a guy who thinks foreign policy works like a real estate deal. What could possibly go wrong?
We need to protect our economic interests. American vessels are being overcharged, affecting our trade competitiveness.
And your solution is to SEIZE another country's infrastructure?! This isn't the 1900s - you can't just take what you want because "America First"!
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