Panama president dismisses reports of US military assessing canal control options

Record ID: 1984754

  • Title: Panama president dismisses reports of US military assessing canal control options
  • Date: 20th March 2025
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 20, 2025)(REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AND SIGNAGE IN SUPPORT OF MENENDEZ BROTHERS OUTSIDE OF HALL OF JUSTICE (SOUNDBITE)(English) ANAMARIA BARALT, COUSIN OF ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ, SAYING: "It means the world to me, to our family, and to every single person who believes in fairness, justice and rehabilitation." (SOUNDBITE)(E
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Donald Trump Jose Raul Mulino Panama Panama Canal Pentagon President Mulino US military
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, PANAMA
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, PANAMA
  • Country: Panama
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001049420032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said on Thursday (March 20) that he didn't place any value on reports the U.S. military is looking into options for ensuring full U.S. access to the Panama Canal, since these reports came from unnamed sources.
    Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, told Reuters last week that the Pentagon had been instructed to evaluate options, amid President Donald Trump's repeated assertion he wants to "take back" the key global shipping route in Panama.
    Trump had claimed the canal's toll charges were too high and that it was being controlled by China, without providing any evidence. Mulino has rejected both assertions, saying the waterway is managed in a fair and transparent way.
    The canal is controlled by the Panama Canal Authority, a Panama government agency, but Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison 0001.HK has held concessions to operate two ports on either end of the canal.
    Earlier this month, CK Hutchison said it had agreed to sell most of its global $22.8 billion ports business, including assets in Panama to a group led by U.S. investment firm BlackRock BLK.N, even as Hong Kong's city leader accused foreign governments of "bullying tactics."
    He added he was meeting with the head of the Panama Canal Authority soon to discuss major ports projects in the region and Panama's potential involvement in Trans-Pacific shipping.
    (Production: Rodolfo Pena Roja, Liamar Ramos)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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