Panama government appeals for aid to UN over Trump's series of threats

While U.S. President Trump also expressed his willingness to regain the Panama Canal in his inaugural speech, the Panama government has appealed to the United Nations for support.

According to Panama media and AFP, U.N. ambassador Eloy Alfaro sent a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres asking him to "reaffirm his position that he supports member states' sovereignty based on the U.N. Charter and opposes any attempt to harm territorial integrity or political independence."

Panama authorities also urged the United Nations to address a series of issues related to President Trump's remarks at the Security Council.

Panama is a non-permanent member of the Security Council from 2025 to 2026, along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan and Somalia.

Denmark is also facing threats from President Trump against its own Greenland.

"We strongly condemn President Trump's inaugural speech on the Panama Canal," Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, who is visiting Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, said in a separate statement. "The canal belongs to the people of Panama forever."