Jose Raul Mulino, the president of Panama, stated on Thursday that the United States and Panama would not negotiate over who will own the Panama Canal. He expressed his hope that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's next visit will enable them to concentrate on issues of mutual interest, such as fighting drug trafficking and migration.

Panama would have made a big impact by being the first stop for the top US diplomat, but this visit is even more significant because Rubio is representing US President Donald Trump, who has often suggested that the US should take control of the Panama Canal again. Noting that "above all, China is operating the Panama Canal," Trump asserted on the day of his inauguration that US ships were being unfairly handled and heavily overcharged. He has earlier stated that the United States may demand the return of the canal.

Mulino tried to reduce the tension during his weekly press conference on Thursday. He explained that he wanted to clear up any confusion about China's involvement in the canal, noting that while a Hong Kong consortium manages the ports at both ends, Panama still controls the canal. He also pointed out that it was a previous administration that established diplomatic relations with China. “It's impossible, I can't negotiate,” Mulino said when asked about returning the canal to US control. “That is done. The canal belongs to Panama.”

In the early 1900s, the United States built the canal to help commercial and military ships travel more easily between its coasts. On December 31, 1999, the U.S. handed over control of the waterway to Panama, as part of a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Mulino stated that his main goal is to clear all obstacles, clean the table, and have an open conversation with the United States about important issues such as immigration, security, and the fight against drug trafficking. Rubio is set to meet with Mulino on Sunday and visit the canal.