Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez poses for a portrait after delivering a speech at the IMO Headquarters, in London, on January 14, 2025. Agence France-Presse
LONDON — The Panama Canal will remain Panamanian, the secretary general of the United Nation’s maritime body told AFP on Tuesday, after Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to seize the key waterway.
“For me it is very clear and it is not a subject of great discussion, because the treaties were signed in 1977. The canal passed into the hands of Panama, which continues to manage this vital waterway, and will continue to do so,” said Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
doubleu casino free slots Article continues after this advertisementUS president-elect Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, caused shockwaves when asked about the canal last week.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal GLOBALNATION NBI arrests 5 Pinoys offering bribe to free 12 Chinese GLOBALNATION Thousands across Gaza celebrate ceasefire dealREAD: Panama Canal CEO says Trump’s plans would ‘lead to chaos’
The government agency issued this month the invitation to bid for the P56.76-million contract. Interested parties have until Nov. 5 to submit their proposals.
This development was the latest milestone for the company, which has seen its local market grow in value to multiple hundreds of millions of pesos annually.
He said he was “not going to commit to that (no military action). It might be that you have to do something.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe United States built, owned and operated the Central American canal until the late US president Jimmy Carter struck a deal in the 1970s to gradually hand over control of the vital transport route to the Panamanian authorities.
Article continues after this advertisementPanama responded to Trump’s comments by saying the sovereignty of its interoceanic canal was non-negotiable.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Panama tells Trump that canal sovereignty non-negotiable
“The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle,” Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha said.
Article continues after this advertisementPresident Jose Raul Mulino has refused to entertain negotiations over its control.
Trump has also ruffled European feathers with similar comments about Greenland.
Denmark — which Greenland is an autonomous territory of — is a US ally and a fellow member of NATO, another target of Trump’s ire as he demanded that nations in the western alliance boost their defence spending.
In addition to its strategic location, Greenland, which is seeking independence from Denmark, holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration are banned.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen later said she had reached out to Trump following his remarks, which Denmark said were being taken seriously.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Trump first claimed that he wanted to buy Greenland in 2019 during his first term as president — an offer swiftly rebuffed by Greenland and Denmark.c9taya
READ NEXT Norwegian 21-year-old becomes youngest to reach South Pole Danish PM tells Trump Greenland will decide on future EDITORS' PICK Thousands across Gaza celebrate ceasefire deal Darryl Yap’s motion to consolidate ‘Pepsi Paloma’ cases filed by Vic Sotto denied LA fires: Suspected arsonist ‘enjoyed causing chaos and destruction’ Japan panel says ‘megaquake’ probability up to 82% Siargao Island Medical Center: Transforming healthcare for Surigaonons MOST READ PNP says mall guard in viral video may lose license MMFF 2024: ‘And the Breadwinner Is,’ ‘Green Bones’ top box office INQToday: Marcos stance on Duterte impeachment ‘unchanged’ amid Enrile’s remarks Weaker peso curbed remittances in November Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments