Panama is not treating American ships any differently than any other ships as President-elect Donald Trump has suggested, former U.S. Ambassador to Panama Simon Ferro said in an interview.
"The original Panama Canal Treaty ended on Dec. 31, 1999, when the transfer took over. And now we're under the second treaty," Ferro told Newsmax's "Saturday Agenda."
"And in this treaty, Panama has to remain neutral. The canal has to remain neutral. It has to be accessible to the shipping of all nations, including, by the way, the military vessels of all nations.
"It obviously is allowed to charge fees, and they have to be reasonable in accordance with international law, which, you know, as far as I can tell, Panama is doing. They're not treating American ships in any way differently than any other ships.
"In terms of our ability to protect the neutrality of the canal, we do have the ability to intervene and protect the canal when there is a danger to its neutrality or when there's a danger to its continued operation, as long as we do not interfere with the actual sovereignty of the Republic of Panama. So we do have that that provision in the existing treaty that allows us to make sure that our national interests are protected," he said.
"Now, the question is, Has that been violated? Frankly, I don't see that it has been violated."
Trump last week accused Panama of price-gouging American ships traversing the canal and suggested that he would abandon the Jimmy Carter-era treaty that returned all control of the canal zone to Panama if that didn't change.
Ferro also said the U.S. should be concerned about China's growing influence, not just in Panama, but in Latin America.
"It's a void that they have rushed in to fill, as we have ignored Latin America. You know, it's been our backyard, as we say, and it's been ignored by every American president in the last 50 or 60 years, both Republicans and Democrats," he told Newsmax.
"China has moved in, offering money grants, the ability to finance large infrastructure projects. The U.S. has basically capitulated, as far as I'm concerned, in that area."
He said the fault was ours.
"It's our fault. If China has had a void to fill, it's been a void that the United States has, for whatever reason, not wanted or been able to fulfill so quickly," Ferro said.
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.