Panama sued the United States

According to RCO News Agency, the government of Panama City, in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, referred to an article in the UN Charter that prohibits any member from “threat or use of force” against the territorial integrity or political independence of another.

In this message, which was made available to reporters on Tuesday, Panama asks Guterres to refer the issue to the UN Security Council. In this regard, there has been no request for a meeting.

According to France 24, Panama’s complaint is being filed in a situation where this country has launched an audit of an operator related to Hong Kong regarding two ports in this inter-oceanic waterway.

In his inauguration speech as the new US president on Monday, Donald Trump again accused Panama, claiming that China effectively controls the Panama Canal through its growing presence around the waterway.

Although the United States handed over the control of this international waterway to Panama at the end of 1999, the new American president said in his speech: “We did not give it (Panama Canal) to China, we gave it to Panama.” And we’re taking it back.”

Meanwhile, the president of Panama, Jose Raul Molino, rejects the intervention of another country in this channel. He emphasizes that this channel is governed by the principle of neutrality.

Reacting to Trump’s threats, Molino said: “This canal belongs to Panama and will remain.”

Republican Trump has been increasing pressure on this channel for weeks. 40 percent of US container traffic goes through the Panama Canal, and Trump has not ruled out using military force to retake it.

The United States is the main user of this channel, followed by China. Since 2000, the waterway has contributed more than $30 billion to Panamanian government coffers, including nearly $2.5 billion last fiscal year.

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