U.S. claim on Panama Canal fee changes false – Official
The 82-kilometre canal connects the Atlantic with the Pacific in Central America
The Panama Canal Authority late on Wednesday, denied any changes to transit fees after the U.S. Department of State said U.S. government ships would no longer pay to use the canal.
“The government of Panama has agreed to no longer charge fees for U.S. government vessels to transit the Panama Canal.’’
The Department of State said in a post on social media platform X, adding that the move would save the U.S. millions of dollars annually.
However, the Panama Canal Authority said in a post on X that it had “not made any changes to charges.’’
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The authority emphasised its willingness to engage in discussions with the U.S. regarding the passage of U.S. military vessels.
In his inauguration speech on Jan. 20, U.S. President Donald Trump laid claim to the Panama Canal.
He had since bluntly stated on several occasions that the U.S. should have checks on the important waterway, a claim that his Panamanian counterpart, José Raúl Mulino, had firmly rejected.
Trump also claimed that China is operating the important waterway in Central America.
Both Panama and China rejected the allegations.
However, Panama had been under considerable pressure to make concessions. Trump did not rule out military action.
The 82-kilometre canal connects the Atlantic with the Pacific in Central America.
It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the engineering corps of the U.S. Army.
It stressed that, on Dec. 31, 1999, the U.S. handed over the canal administration to Panama.
The transaction was negotiated by the recently deceased Democratic U.S. president Jimmy Carter.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticised China’s influence on the waterway as he travelled to Panama over the weekend to underscore Trump’s call for checks.
The U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) on Wednesday said that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Panama’s Minister of Public Security, Frank Alexis Ábrego, over the phone.
“His top priority is to safeguard U.S. national security interests, to include ensuring unfettered access to the Panama Canal and keeping it free from foreign interference.’’
