Russia Warns Trump Against Reclaiming Panama Canal Control

MOSCOW, Russia — Russia’s foreign ministry has urged the United States to respect the international agreements governing the Panama Canal, following President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to reclaim control of the critical maritime trade route. Alexander Shchetinin, director of the Latin American department at Russia’s foreign ministry, emphasized the importance of maintaining the canal’s neutrality and warned against U.S. interference in Panama’s sovereignty.

In a statement to Russian news outlet TASS, Shchetinin said, “We expect that during the expected discussions between the leadership of Panama and President Trump on issues of control over the Panama Canal, which certainly falls within the sphere of their bilateral relations, the parties will respect the current international legal regime of this key waterway.” He added that 40 countries have joined a protocol agreement to recognize the canal’s neutrality and ensure it remains “safe and open.”

The Panama Canal, a 51-mile waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s and transferred to Panama in 2000 under treaties signed in 1977. Trump has criticized the agreement, calling it a “big mistake” and accusing Panama of allowing China to dominate the canal. During his second inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2024, Trump declared, “We’re taking it back,” claiming American ships are being overcharged and treated unfairly.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino has rejected Trump’s assertions, stating, “The Canal is and will continue to be Panama’s, and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control with respect to its permanent neutrality.” Mulino emphasized that no foreign nation interferes with the canal’s administration and called for dialogue to address Trump’s concerns without undermining Panama’s sovereignty.

Ricaurte Vásquez, the canal’s administrator, also refuted claims of Chinese control, stating that all nations are treated equally under the canal’s operating framework. The canal remains a vital trade route, saving ships approximately 7,000 miles by avoiding the journey around Cape Horn.

Russia’s warning comes amid heightened tensions over global trade routes and sovereignty. Shchetinin stressed that the U.S. does not have the right to interfere in Panama’s internal affairs, even as it retains the ability to defend the canal’s neutrality. “Any actions by the American side will never be directed against the territorial integrity or political independence of Panama,” he said.

Trump’s threats have sparked international concern, with critics warning that attempts to reclaim the canal could destabilize regional relations and violate international law. The canal’s strategic importance to global trade makes it a focal point of geopolitical tensions, particularly as the U.S. and China vie for influence in Latin America.