US President Donald Trump does not intend to maintain the status quo regarding the Panama Canal amid China’s growing influence in the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino about this.
The Secretary of State noted that the current influence and ‘control of China’ allegedly poses a threat to the canal and violates the Treaty of Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.
‘Rubio informed the President [Jose Raul – ed.] that Trump has made a preliminary decision that the current state of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area poses a threat to the canal and is a violation of the Treaty of Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal,’ the statement said.
On the statement of Rubio, the head of Panama responded that the country will not extend the memorandum of understanding with China on the project ‘One Belt, One Road’ and considers early termination of the agreement.
We will remind, earlier the President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino said that he does not intend to discuss with the United States the issue of ownership of the Panama Canal.
