Panama has insisted its sovereignty over the Panama Canal is “non-negotiable” after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out taking it by military force.
Trump made the remark during a news conference on Tuesday, where he also falsely claimed that the Panama Canal was being run by Chinese soldiers.
Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha responded by saying that “the only hands governing the canal are Panamanian and that will remain so.”
The Panama Canal was operated by the US for decades, but under a treaty signed by the late US President Jimmy Carter in 1977, it was handed over to the Panamanians on December 31, 1999.
At his news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump called President Carter's decision to bring back the channel a “big mistake.”
He too expressed renewed interest in purchasing the Arctic island of Greenland – which is a self-governing territory of Denmark – as well as the Panama Canal.
Pressed by reporters on whether he would rule out using military or economic force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, he said: “No, I can't assure you of either of those two.”
Panama's foreign minister denied his country had received any offer from the president-elect.
“Trump's comments today that he talked about a certain amount of money are not true. No offer has been received, let's be clear,” Martinez-Acha said.
He added that “the sovereignty of our channel is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle and irreversible conquest”.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino has yet to directly respond to Trump's latest remarks.
But at a colorful ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the handover of the Panama Canal held on December 31, he told those present “to be sure that it will remain under our control forever.”
President Molino has in the past appeared irritated by Trump's claims that the canal is under some Chinese influence, saying “there are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for God's sake.”
His government also stressed that “until January 20, the US government is led by Joe Biden. From January 20, we will deal with Mr. Trump and his government.”
“Panama is willing to cooperate and maintain excellent relations with the various governments.”