Hi GATORLEACH,
Here are some important facts and thoughts:
As others have mentioned here - thank you all for chiming in - Panama runs the Panama Canal, not China.
Panama was prepared by the US to run the waterway over a 20-year transition period, as laid out in the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Thus Panamanian engineers, geologists and others were already working at the Canal alongside Americans long before Panama took over running the Canal. Panama has been running the Canal extremely successfully since Panama officially took over in 1999 (so we're talking over two decades, 25+ years)
(Though the original Canal was completed by the US in 1914, the new sector of the Panama Canal expansion completed by Panama in 2016, after it was approved by the people of Panama in a nationwide referendum, is the only section that can accommodate newer, larger post-Panamax sized ships.
I do understand that many have concern because of comments the type of which are unprecedented by a US president or president-elect.
I may not be able to predict exactly what's in store but we have good reason to expect that on a macro level things won't be changing much.
Some may be justifiably concerned because there just isn't a lot of LatAm foreign policy info or past examples to go on. Over the past years particularly with the covid crisis as a major concern, LatAm has not received nearly as much attention from the US government and now we're seeing new focus and interest.
But I agree with the experts who say: Looks like it’s all about 1- pressuring countries like Panama to do even more to try stem the refugee tide and 2- the always popular topic of tariffs and trade. Not any real belief that any US leader could rally enough support to “invade and annex Panama” or "take back the Canal."
With Panama's stellar track record and long history of close ties with the US (and a long list of other countries) I like many others here am still feeling great about my decision to live in this incredibly peaceful country often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.
(This moniker stems from Panama's commitment - as home of the Panama Canal - to stay neutral. Panama has no military. As a non-political "autonomous" entity the Canal is not affected by changes in presidents/administrations.)
Panama became a sovereign republic with major support from the US over 100 years ago, in 1903. Panama has used the US dollar for over 100 years. The long history of friendship and respect between the US and Panama cannot be overstated.
In my experience Panamanians aren't generally the type to judge all Americans by the actions of any one person. Sure, you might find some unfriendly people here (or anywhere else) but as a whole, overwhelmingly, Panamanians have continued to be welcoming and friendly to Americans, whether after the invasion in 1989, Wild Bill in 2010, or over the past month, so I feel confident that will continue.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch