Panama Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Canal Sovereignty Transfer, President Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Canal

On December 31, local time on December 31, 2024, Panama held a commemorative event for the 25th anniversary of the Panama Canal transfer at the headquarters of the Canal Authority, attended by President Mulino and hundreds of guests. During the ceremony, Mulino reaffirmed Panama's sovereignty over the canal. In his speech, he emphasized, 'It is precisely because of our neutral management that countries around the world can rest assured that strategic passages like the Panama Canal will not be involved in any conflict.' In response to the threat posed by U.S. President-elect Trump attempting to reclaim the Panama Canal, President Mulino replied, 'The Panama Canal only belongs to the Panamanians, and that will never change.'