'Panama is not for sale,' Panamanians take to the streets to protest US diplomat Rubio's visit

Record ID: 1954847

  • Title: 'Panama is not for sale,' Panamanians take to the streets to protest US diplomat Rubio's visit
  • Date: 2nd February 2025
  • Summary: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (FEBRUARY 2, 2025) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS WITH PANAMANIAN FLAGS IN THE STREET PROTESTER STEPPING ON POSTER WITH IMAGE OF MARCO RUBIO CHARACTERIZED AS A NAZI PROTESTERS STANDING IN FRONT OF RIOT POLICE BLOCKING AVENUE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BURNING POSTERS WITH IMAGES OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO PROTESTERS GATHERIN
  • Embargoed: 16th February 2025 22:08
  • Keywords: Donald Trump Marco Rubio Panama Canal Panamanians Raul Mulino protest
  • Location: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
  • City: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
  • Country: Panama
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001819002022025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT, FROM SHOTS 13 TO 17, CONTAINS SIMILAR IMAGES TO THOSE PUBLISHED IN EDITS 8176-USA-LATAM/PANAMA-MULINO AND 8165-USA-LATAM/RUBIO-PANAMA-MULINO
    Local residents in Panama City took to the streets on Sunday (February 2) to protest the visit from U.S. top diplomat Marco Rubio amid Trump's threats to retake control of the Panama Canal.
    The U.S. and Panama made progress on key migration and business issues during Rubio's visit in Panama City, but failed to find common ground over the Panama Canal's operations, with President Jose Mulino saying his country's sovereignty over the world's second busiest waterway is not up for discussion.
    Trump has refused to rule out use of military force over Panama, drawing criticism from Washington's Latin American friends and foes alike. In a senate hearing last week, U.S. officials said fines and restrictions on Panamanian-flag vessels entering U.S. ports could be imposed due to the dispute over the canal.
    "Trump is looking for World War III," said union leader and protester Saul Mendez. "He wants to annex Canada, he wants to invade Mexico, he wants to take the canal, he wants to rip Greenland away from Denmark," he added at the protest where banners showing images of Donald Trump and Rubio were burned on the ground.
    "We Panamanians are not going to trust him (Trump) and we are going to prepare ourselves for the fight in defense of our homeland," said protester Diogenes Sanchez.
    Trump upon returning to office threatened to take control of Panama Canal, built by the United States in the early 20th century and handed over to Panama in 1999, claiming the canal is being operated by China.
    China has said it plays no part in operating the canal and that it respects Panama's sovereignty and independence over the waterway.
    The canal is operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous agency overseen by the Panamanian government.
    The U.S. secretary of state is touring Central America and the Caribbean on his first foray in the post as he seeks to refocus U.S. diplomacy on the Western Hemisphere - in part to recruit help in stemming migration toward the U.S. southern border.
    (Production: Abraham Teran, Rodolfo Pena Roja, Gloria Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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