The Panamanian government aims to maintain a “respectful” relationship with the United States despite Donald Trump’s threats to reclaim control over the canal, said Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha after speaking with a senior US official.
Martínez-Acha held a telephone conversation on Friday with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to discuss various topics, including respect for the neutrality of the interoceanic route.
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The conversation took place before the visit on Tuesday by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, amid Trump’s accusations of Chinese interference in the canal originally built by the United States in 1914 and under Panamanian control since 1999.
“We discussed irregular migration, organized crime, drug trafficking, and asymmetric threats affecting the region. A cordial and constructive exchange,” wrote Martínez-Acha on social media.
“I reiterated that all Panamanian cooperation will be within the framework of our Constitution, laws, and Neutrality Treaty of the Canal. Relations with the US must remain respectful, transparent, and mutually beneficial for both nations,” added the Panamanian Foreign Minister.
During the conversation, they also discussed “the recent port transaction” between Hutchison’s Hong Kong company and the American BlackRock fund to sell their concession in two Panama Canal ports operated since 1997, said Martínez-Acha.
Hutchison announced in March that it would sell 43 ports in 23 countries, including its operations in Panama, to BlackRock. However, the deal did not close on April 2 as planned due to ongoing Chinese regulatory investigations.
“Coincidimos” con Landau “en la importancia de garantizar la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas en el proceso de auditoría” que la Contraloría panameña realiza desde enero a Panama Ports Company, filial local de Hutchison, agregó el canciller panameño.
The US Embassy in Panama stated in a press release that Subsecretary of State “recognized Panama’s actions to counter the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party.”
The United States and China are the main users of the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and through which 5% of world maritime trade passes.
