By Cécile Mantovani and Alexander Smith
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino responded “be serious, be serious” on Wednesday when asked in Davos whether he feared a U.S. invasion after President Donald Trump said he would resume the Panama Canal.
Mulino declined to answer further questions after speaking during a panel discussion on Latin America’s “fault lines” at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss resort.
In his inauguration speech Monday, which invoked the 19th century expansionist doctrine of “manifest destiny,” Trump reiterated his aspiration for the United States to retake the canal, which is a key route for global shipping.
Trump did not give further details on when or how he intended to reclaim the canal – which is the sovereign territory of an ally – but has previously refused to rule out possible use of military force , drawing criticism from Washington’s Latin American friends and foes.
He also reiterated previous accusations against Panama that it broke promises regarding the final transfer of the strategic waterway in 1999 and ceded its operation to China, allegations that the Panamanian government has vehemently denied.
Mulino said Monday on X that Panama has administered the canal responsibly for global trade, including the United States, and that it “is and will continue to be Panamanian.”