President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday, the 28th, that Brazil fully supports Panama’s sovereignty about the channel, the covetous and threat of resumption by US President Donald Trump. Brazil will adhere to a treaty that advocates neutrality over the channel.
Lula received at the Planalto Palace visits the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, and said that the Central American country has gained autonomy over the channel after years of struggle and has managed it since 1999 maintaining neutrality over infrastructure.
Earlier this year, Trump threatened to resume control of the channel, built in partnership with the US and one of the most important routes for intercontinental cargo transportation.
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The Republican accused the Panamanian government of favoring Chinese companies installed on site and charging exorbitant tariffs from the American. He argued that American flag navigation was free. After a visit by Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Mulino announced that he would remove Panama from the new Seda Route, Chinese initiative.
“Brazil fully supports Panama’s sovereignty over the channel, won after decades of struggle. For over 25 years, the country has managed the maritime corridor with efficiency and respect for neutrality, ensuring safe traffic to all origins. Therefore we decided to add to the treaty regarding permanent neutrality and the functioning of the Panama Canal, already subscribed by more than 140 countries,” said the Brazilian president.
“The theme of the channel is very emotional, very suitable for us,” said Mulino, who recalled the dispute for over a century over the channel and adjacent areas and said it was managed by a multilateral neutrality treaty, signed with the US, and that both sides had to give in. “It doesn’t exist today, it may never exist, a country that doesn’t depend on others in multiple things. The self -sufficient country doesn’t exist.”
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The petista stated that Latin America and the Caribbean goes through one of the most critical moments in the history of the region and that “threats of interference press democratic institutions” and the trade has become a “instrument of coercion and blackmail.” Mulino agreed that the region is going through a “very difficult” political moment and ensured that it supports multilateralism.
“Attempts to restore ancient hegemonies put in check the freedom and self -determination of our peoples. Interference threats press democratic institutions and compromise the construction of an integrated, developed and autonomous continent. International trade is used as an instrument of coercion and blackmail. Never, ”said Lula.
As he did alongside Daniel Noboa, president of Ecuador, Lula avoided quoting Trump, but reacted to sending the Caribbean sea naval fleet on the argument of combating drug cartels and putting under pressure from Venezuela.
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He said that “combating organized crime cannot serve as a pretext for illegal threats and use of strength” in violation of the United Nations Charter.
Lula also invited Mulino to COP-30 in Belém (PA), and said that the climate conference will be the “COP of Truth” and will show that global rulers are concerned about climate change and whether or not they believe in science.
“If we do not believe, we will move to the historic as the only animals capable of destroying its natural habitat which is planet Earth,” said Lula.
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The petista invited Trump through an unanswered letter, months after the American communicates for the second time the US withdrawal from the commitments made in the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The presidents entered into the agreement for the sale of four Supportucan A-29 fighters, manufactured by Embraer, to the fleet of the National Aeronaval Service of Panama. The sale had already been announced by the Brazilian company, and the presidents posed with a miniature of the plane.
