The government of Panama He said Thursday, March 13 that he will remain firm in the defense of his sovereignty, after NBC News assured that the president Donald Trump considers “the US military presence in this country to” Recover the interoceanic channel.
NBC News, citing two US officials who does not identify, said that with that goal the White House has ordered the armed forces of USA that prepare options to increase the presence of US troops in Panama.
The AFP contacted the Pentagon and the White House To verify the information, but for the moment they did not respond.
“Regarding those statements I have nothing more to say that Panama It remains firm in defense of its territory, its channel And of his sovereignty, “said Panamanian Chancellor Javier Martínez-Facha, to journalists.
According to NBC News, the Southern Command of USA Develop potential plans that vary from associating more closely with Panamanian security forces to the least probable option that US troops take the Panama Canal By force.
The NBC News version on an increase in military presence in Panama It caused surprise, since there are no US troops in the country for 25 years.
The last American soldier left on December 31, 1999, the day the interocentric route passed to Panamanian hands and the channel area, the American enclave where the military bases were.
Although the agreements signed in 1977 for the transfer of the channel allow USA Defend the road in case of threats, Martínez-Facha said that this can only occur at the request of the Panamanian government.
The tension between the two countries grew since last December Trump He assured that “the sea road built by USA and inaugurated in 1914. He has even said that he does not rule out the use of force for this purpose and has denounced an alleged Chinese interference in the channel, what Panama denies.
“That is clear, the channel is from the Panamanians and will continue to be,” said Martínez-Facha.
“The channel is operated by the Panamanians and in case of threat the only ones who can summon other nations to defend the operation of the channel It is our country, it is the President of the Republic “Panamanian, he added.
The United States invaded Panama in 1989 to capture the dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega, whom he accused of drug trafficking, but in 1994 he began the gradual closure of his military bases in the country.
Before delivering the channel, USA He proposed to install in Panama an “anti -drug multilateral center”, with ships and airplanes for patrol in the sea, which was rejected by the Panamanian government of that time.