Sunday, February 09, 2025
name of Prensa Latina
Bandera inglesa
English Edition
Search
Close this search box.
name of Prensa Latina

NEWS

NEWS

US urged to respond to US intentions regarding Panama Canal

Panama City, Jan 25 (Prensa Latina) Analysts and social organizations today called on the government to take concrete action in response to threats by US President Donald Trump to retake control of the Panama Canal.

Tensions escalated after the announcement that next Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz, who represents the state of Texas and the Republican Party, summoned the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to a hearing on Canal tariffs, foreign influence and what that represents for national security.

Also confirmed for Friday, January 31, was the visit to the isthmus by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as part of a Latin American tour that will also take him to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, to review “Trump’s agenda.”

According to political analyst José Stoute, “the activities of the United States Senate send the message that they are serious, that it is not a joke.”

The scholar also points out there must be clear actions by the Government of José Raúl Mulino in defense of sovereignty over the interoceanic route.

In addition, the Senate is expected to analyze the second initiative on the Canal: a resolution presented by the Republican of Missouri, Eric Schmitt, in which it is intended to “expel officials and interests of the People’s Republic of China and end the Chinese management of key Panamanian ports,” according to its title, it was revealed.

In this instrument, the American dissatisfaction with the management of the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, managed by the Chinese company CK Hutchinson, based in Hong Kong, is specifically expressed.

For Stoute, it is not known exactly what Trump intends, but he predicts that Rubio will be able to communicate the true intentions to the country.

On the other hand, the newspaper assures that the Executive has hired the company BGR Group to receive strategic advice and to lobby American officials, and cites media such as Bloomberg Government and O’Dwyers (public relations firm).

The one-year contract is worth 205,714 dollars, according to these versions.

In the United States, lobbyists are in charge of representing the interests of organizations or groups before legislators and decision-makers, with the objective of influencing political decisions and also public opinion.

The BGR company would be under the supervision of Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, during the year in which they will offer services to the Panamanian State.

In this regard, Soute considers that it is a step forward, but necessary, for the Government to call for national unity and also to gather support from international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union or the Organization of American States.

The Panama Canal, built by the United States, was inaugurated in 1914 and was under US administration until it was transferred to the Panamanian State on December 31, 1999, in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed on September 7, 1977 in Washington by the then presidents of Panama, Omar Torrijos (1968-1981) and of the United States, Jimmy Carter (1977-1981).

ef/arc/ga

LATEST NEWS
RELATED