PANama City – Panama President Jose Raul Milano said Thursday that “lies and lies” are spreading after the US State Department claims when the US official ship will pass through the Panama Canal without payment.
These comments will likely boost tensions between the two countries when the United States cited progress on military cooperation and the alleged Chinese influence on the canal.
Later, Milano added on social media that he will talk to US President Donald Trump on Friday afternoon.
Since then the Panama has been in the White House’s Cross Hyers Trump Claimed that the country’s main waterway has been effectively handled by China and pledged to the United States “Take it back.”
Talking to reporters, Milano expressed his “absolute rejection” that the relations between the two countries were “based on lies and lies.”
The US Department of State did not respond to the request to comment immediately. The White House also did not respond immediately.
The Panama Canal Authority issued a statement late on Wednesday, Reject The State Department claims that the Panama government has now agreed to receive a crossing fee for US government ships, which will save millions of dollars a year in a year.
Trump has accused the Central American country of accusing him of excessive prices to use his trade passage, one of the busiest world in the world.
US military ships are preferred to pass through the waterway, according to the 1977 neutral agreement when the United States agreed to return the canal to Panama. But regardless of the original, destination or flag, all ships must play the tool that is different in size and type.
“Why are they making an important institution from the organization that ruled over US foreign policy, based on a lie, under the president of the United States?” Milano asked the claim “straight and clearly unbearable”.
Milano said he told his ambassador to Washington to take “strong steps” to reject the Trump administration’s claims.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Milano in Panama during a trip to Central America.
After the visit, Rubio welcomed At China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing led the global infrastructure plan, which has called the move “a great step forward” for bilateral relations.
On Thursday, Milano said that Panama had formally submitted a document to get out of the Belt and Road Initiative but denied that the decision was made on the US request, adding that he Taking time to assess Panama relations with China and what is better for the country. .
