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Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino. File photo: YVES HERMAN/REUTERS
Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino. File photo: YVES HERMAN/REUTERS

Davos — Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino responded “be serious, be serious” on Wednesday when asked in Davos whether he was concerned the US would invade after President Donald Trump said he would take back the Panama Canal.

Mulino declined to answer other questions after speaking on a panel session addressing Latin America’s “faultlines” at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss resort.

In his inauguration speech on Monday that invoked the 19th century expansionist doctrine of “Manifest Destiny”, Trump repeated his aspiration that the US would take back the canal, which is a key route for world shipping.

Trump gave no further details on when or how he intended to reclaim the canal — which is the sovereign territory of an ally — but has previously refused to rule out possible use of military force, drawing criticism from Washington’s Latin American friends and foes alike.

He also repeated previous accusations against Panama of breaking promises it made for the final transfer of the strategic waterway in 1999 and of ceding its operation to China, allegations the Panamanian government has vehemently denied.

Mulino said on X on Monday that Panama has administered the canal responsibly for world trade, including for the US, and that it “is and will continue to be Panamanian”.

Reuters

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