Panama's president rejects Trump's claim on canal control

President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that the U.S. might reclaim control of the Panama Canal due to concerns over high fees and Chinese influence. He described the fees as "ridiculous" and warned of potential U.S. action if Panama fails to ensure the canal's operation. In response, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected Trump's remarks, asserting that the canal is sovereign Panamanian territory. He emphasized that the canal operates independently of foreign control, including from the U.S. and China. The Panama Canal was completed by the U.S. in 1914 and transferred to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which granted Panama full sovereignty.