Part 5/9:
Panamá's President Jose Rul Mulino has firmly rejected Trump's claims and vowed that every inch of the canal belongs to Panama. The temperature in the U.S.-Panama relationship has risen in response to Trump’s threats, putting both countries in a precarious position.
Historically, sentiments surrounding the canal have been charged, with numerous Panamanians remembering American military interventions—most notably the U.S. invasion in 1989 to oust dictator Manuel Noriega. This recent history makes the idea of a military recapture deeply contentious and fraught with implications, not just for U.S. diplomacy but for regional stability as well.