Panama President Rejects US Canal Ownership Negotiations Ahead of Rubio Visit

Panama President José Raúl Mulino has firmly stated there will be no negotiations over the ownership of the Panama Canal during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming visit. Mulino emphasized that the canal belongs to Panama, a sentiment echoed by the Panamanian government, which has denied allegations from President Donald Trump that China is illegally operating the canal and overcharging U.S. vessels. Trump has expressed intentions to reclaim control of the waterway, which the U.S. relinquished in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter. Mulino aims to focus discussions with Rubio on mutual interests such as immigration and drug trafficking instead of ownership issues. He described the notion of negotiating canal ownership as impossible and reiterated Panama's commitment to the rule of law regarding foreign investments. This tension comes as Trump has threatened actions against what he perceives as unfair practices related to the canal's operation.