Panama's president hints at military operation, 'stage response' to Trump's threat to return canals

Regarding U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who even hinted at the possibility of mobilizing military forces over control of the Panama Canal, Panama's president expressed his position to maintain a "stage response" stance for now.

Panama President Jose Raul Moulino said on the 7th local time that he would not respond until (Trump) is inaugurated as U.S. president on the 20th, local daily Laestreya de Panama reported, referring to Trump's option to use military force regarding the return of the Panama Canal.

This seems to be based on the judgment that there is no dispute over Panama's territorial sovereignty under international law, the newspaper analyzed.

Earlier, in a press conference and a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the transfer of the Panama Canal, President Mulino took an offensive stance on Trump's threatening remarks, saying, "No one has ever given the canal to Panama as a gift," "We didn't buy our territory with money," "We can't give up even a square meter," and "The demand for return comes from historical ignorance."

Mr. Mulino also stressed that he would bring the United States to the International Court of Justice if necessary.

"The Panama Canal (problem) is currently in discussion with Panama," Trump said at his second press conference after winning the presidential election, claiming that the Panama government violated all aspects of the agreement and that China was operating the Panama Canal.

Asked if he would rule out military or economic coercion to secure control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, he said: "I can't say for sure on either issue."

After the Panama Canal and Greenland said they would not commit to excluding the use of economic or military coercive measures after saying they were important to U.S. economic and national security, they did not rule out the possibility of using military force in the process of securing control of the Panama Canal.