The president of Panama has formally complained to the United Nations about President Donald Trump's "threats" to acquire the Panama Canal.
The New York Times reviewed the letter sent by José Raúl Mulino to U.N. Secretary General António Guterres and the U.N. Security Council on Monday. In it, Mulino wrote that on behalf of his country and people, “I must reject in its entirety the words expressed by President Donald Trump regarding Panama and its Canal in his inaugural address.”
Mulino continued, “The canal is and will continue to be Panama’s.”
The U.S. built the canal in the early 20th century. The late President Jimmy Carter negotiated the Torrijos–Carter Treaties in 1977, which gave full control to Panama in 1999.
During his address on Monday, Trump declared that the Canal had "foolishly" been given to Panama.
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"We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made and Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged, charged 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 and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama and we’re taking it back."
Trump has repeatedly claimed that China controls the canal, which Mulino has repeatedly refuted, saying, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be.”
At a speech Trump gave at Mar-a-Lago this month, the now-U.S. president refused to rule out using military force to retake the canal, saying somewhat ambiguously, “It might be that you’ll have to do something."
According to The New York Times, Mulino's letter "cited two articles of the U.N. charter that prohibit member states from using threats and force against 'the territorial integrity or political independence,' calling such actions inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations, and suggesting that Mr. Trump’s statements violated the U.N. charter."
The Times reported that it was possible the UN Security Council would schedule a meeting to discuss the issue "if tensions between the United States and Panama persist."