President Jose Raul Mulino has responded to US President-elect Donald Trump‘s remarks regarding the potential reassertion of control over the Panama Canal, a critical waterway that generates billions for the Panamanian economy each year and plays a vital role in international trade.

In a video message released on Sunday, Mulino reaffirmed that the nation’s sovereignty and independence are “non-negotiable,” highlighting the canal’s importance as a symbol of “historical struggle and an irreversible achievement.”

“Every inch of the Panama Canal and its surrounding areas is the rightful property of Panama, and that will remain unchanged,” Mulino stated.

During the weekend, Trump voiced his discontent on Truth Social and at the AmericaFest conference, criticizing what he deemed “exorbitant” fees imposed on American ships passing through the canal, alleging that Panama is taking advantage of the United States with these high charges.

“We’re being taken advantage of at the Panama Canal, just as we are in many other areas,” he remarked to his supporters in Arizona on Sunday, despite the “extraordinary generosity” shown to Panama.

If the moral and legal principles underlying this generous act of giving are not upheld, we will insist on the complete and prompt return of the Panama Canal to the United States, Trump asserted, cautioning Panamanian officials to “act accordingly.”

He further stated that he would never permit the canal to be controlled by “the wrong hands,” specifically referring to China, and underscored the importance of a “secure Panama Canal for U.S. commerce and the swift movement of the Navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific.”

To reinforce his message, Trump posted an image on Truth Social depicting an American flag over a narrow waterway, captioned, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”

In response, Mulino firmly dismissed these assertions, explaining that the canal’s rates are established transparently, taking into account market conditions, international competition, and operational costs. He pointed out that since the canal was transferred from the United States to Panama on December 31, 1999, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, there have been no complaints regarding Panama’s governance.

“These treaties also ensured the canal’s permanent neutrality, safeguarding its open and secure operation for all nations,” he stated, honoring the sacrifices of those who fought for Panama’s sovereignty during the 1964 anti-American protests. Mulino rejected any suggestion that China, the European Union, or any other entity has control over the canal.

The canal has become a significant source of national pride, overseen by skilled Panamanian professionals who guarantee its safe, efficient, and profitable operation, the president noted. It also generates billions of dollars for the Panamanian economy each year and is vital for global trade.

The president emphasized that Panama values the respect of other nations and expects the same in return. He expressed his intention to maintain positive relations with the new US administration, particularly regarding matters like drug trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, and illegal migration. However, he firmly stated that the neutrality of the canal is an issue that cannot be compromised.