Panama leaders affirm control of canal after Trump's takeover threat

Panama's leaders have firmly rejected Donald Trump's recent threats to reclaim control of the Panama Canal. President Jose Raul Mulino stated that the canal's status is "non-negotiable" and belongs to Panama. Mulino, along with former presidents, emphasized that the canal is part of Panama's history and sovereignty. They united in a statement asserting that the canal will remain under Panamanian control. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914 and fully controlled by Panama since 1999, is crucial for global trade, handling five percent of the world's maritime traffic.