Panama City/Washington: Panama President Jose Raul Mulino has asked the United States to not drag his country into its tensions with China, emphasising the importance of maintaining neutrality and focusing on domestic priorities while navigating international relations.
The remarks come post an announcement by the US Embassy in Panama City regarding its plan to swap out communication tower equipment manufactured by the Chinese firm Huawei with what they claimed was more secure US technology, reports Al Mayadeen.
During his weekly news conference, Mulino cautioned the US diplomatic mission against attempting to involve Panama in the geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington.
“Let them fight their problem in Washington or Beijing, but not in Panama’s backyard,” Mulino said in the press conference.
Trump has also stated that the US should reclaim control of the Panama Canal, which he claimed was being operated by China and used to overcharge US shipments to Panama.
However, Mulino and his administration have completely denied the allegations, slamming Trump over his remarks and asserting that the Canal falls under Panama’s sovereign territory. Trump’s remarks have caused significant strain in US-Panama ties.
Panamanian Security Minister Frank Abrego said the telecommunications project at the centre of the latest spat had been in development for almost a decade.
Panama installed several communication towers in 2017 in the eastern province of Darien using its own funds.
The United States later offered to fund the $8 million project but asked to modify it because the equipment did not meet its military security requirements, Abrego said.
