Panama rejects Trump’s threats to take back control of the canal

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to regain control of the Panama Canal, calling them unfounded and reaffirming Panama’s sovereignty over the waterway. Trump, who criticized Panama’s management and raised concerns about China’s influence, warned that the U.S. could demand the return of the canal if operations were not “safe and reliable.”