by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s inaugural claim that the U.S. would “take back” control of the Panama Canal.
“We gave it to Panama and we’re taking it back,” Trump declared in his inaugural address. He accused the Panamanian government of disregarding U.S. interests, overcharging American ships — including U.S. Navy vessels — and effectively handing control of the crucial maritime route between the Pacific and Caribbean to China.
In his inaugural speech, Trump accused Panama of breaking its promise to remain neutral and claimed that the canal is under Chinese control, stating, “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China.”
In response to Trump, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected the idea of giving up control of the canal, a vital maritime route and crucial source of national pride and revenue. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Mulino reaffirmed Panama’s sovereignty, stressing that the canal will remain under Panamanian control according to the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaty.
However, Trump offered no details on how the U.S. would reassert control over the Panama Canal.
“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,” Trump said. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.”
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Russia and North Korea have agreed to “strengthen” their strategic relationship amid indications that Moscow will use more North Korean forces and weapons in its war against Ukraine.
Baptist Christians in northern Nigeria are mourning the death of their pastor who was among two killed during a worship service, while several Christians were murdered or abducted elsewhere, Worthy News learned Saturday.
France and Saudi Arabia will convene a high-level international conference aimed at advancing the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on July 28-29, multiple diplomatic sources confirmed Friday.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States has reached a new deal with NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine, with full reimbursement from the alliance. The announcement follows growing frustration over Russia’s intensifying assault on Ukrainian civilians and a temporary Pentagon pause on U.S. arms shipments earlier this month.
Civilians backed by Sudanese security forces have demolished the building of a Pentecostal Church in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, Christians told Worthy News Friday.
There was mounting concern Friday that Ukraine will be split up under a future peace deal and that Kyiv will be forced to accept it due to relentless Russian long-range drone and missile strikes.
A major Christian advocacy group has asked Colombia’s government to urgently “conduct a full and coordinated investigation” into the disappearance of a Roman Catholic priest who was last seen on June 17.