On the afternoon of December 22 local time, Panamanian President Jose Mulino delivered a speech refuting US President-elect Donald Trump's remarks on the Panama Canal, stressing that the Panama Canal is owned by Panama and that Panama's national sovereignty and independence are inviolable.
Later, Mulino stressed that the two treaties signed between Panama and the United States in 1977 clearly stated that the sovereignty of the Panama Canal belongs to Panama, and the United States transferred full jurisdiction over the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999. Panama therefore strongly rejects any denial of this fact.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted a photo of an American flag flying over a narrow body of water with the caption: "Welcome to the Canal of America!"
"Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its surrounding area belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama," Mulino said in a recorded statement posted on social media.
Trump has threatened to take back the Panama Canal because it was built between 1904 and 1914, largely by the United States, with then-President Theodore Roosevelt overseeing its construction.
Before the election, Trump's presidential campaign was built on an "America First" policy of non-intervention. However, he has repeatedly proposed "territorial expansion" since winning the presidential election, with the Panama Canal being one of the territories he has recently mentioned for possible expansion.
Trump also hinted at Canada, Posting on social media: "Many Canadians would like Canada to become the 51st state, they will save greatly on taxes and military protection, I think it is a great idea, Canada becomes the 51st state of the United States!"
Fox News said he joked during the meeting that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States if it could not withstand 25 percent tariffs. Since then, he has repeatedly referred to the Canadian prime minister as "governor" on social media. Canadian politicians were furious, seeing it as an insult or even a threat to Canada.
Then, Trump's madness didn't stop there, stating an interest in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, adding in the post: "The United States of America believes ownership and control of Greenland is absolutely essential".
This was rejected by the Danish authorities, with the Danish Prime Minister telling Danish media that Greenland was not for sale.
The New York Times reported that the idea of "buying the island" was proposed by Ronald S.Lauder, a wealthy businessman friend of Mr. Trump and heir to the cosmetics giant Estee Lauder.