No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsLatin AmericaPanamanian Judiciary Moves to Prevent US Troops in Canal Zone

Panamanian Judiciary Moves to Prevent US Troops in Canal Zone

A citizens’ coalition on Wednesday asked Panama’s Supreme Court to declare “unconstitutional” a controversial agreement signed last week that allows the United States to deploy troops in the Canal Zone. During a visit to Panama, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed the pact with Panamanian Security Minister Frank Ábrego. The agreement authorizes Washington to station forces in areas granting access to—and adjacent to—the interoceanic canal for “training,” “exercises,” and other maneuvers.

The pact was inked amid pressure from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to retake control of the waterway by force, arguing it is under Chinese influence—a claim Panama denies. “The United States seeks, by means of that memorandum, to reestablish military bases on Panamanian territory,” lawyer Juan Ramón Sevillano said after filing the unconstitutionality challenge on behalf of the Sal de las Redes civic coalition.

Sevillano argued that the agreement “violates six articles” of Panama’s Constitution as well as the 1977 treaty under which Washington transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999. President José Raúl Mulino’s government has denied that the pact cedes sovereignty or permits the establishment of U.S. bases, but those assurances have not silenced critics.

Although the three-year agreement—renewable once—does not explicitly mention “military bases,” it has revived fears of the U.S. installations that existed in the former Canal Zone enclave until 1999. “It is an unacceptable cession of sovereignty and an affront to the generational struggles for the liberation of our territory, by allowing the presence and military operations of a foreign country on Panamanian soil,” Sal de las Redes posted on its Instagram account.

“Today we face not only a government that kneels before Trump, but also direct pressure from the United States,” the coalition added. Sal de las Redes was among the organizers of the massive 2023 protests against a Canadian-owned mine, which the Supreme Court subsequently halted.

The canal—opened in 1914 and handling 5% of global maritime trade—was built by the United States. The 1977 treaty guarantees the “neutrality” of the waterway and stipulates that only Panama may maintain military forces in its territory. However, U.S. legislation passed after the treaty’s ratification could, by some interpretations, permit Washington to defend the canal against any threat.

Trending Now

Massive Cocaine Seizure at Costa Rica’s Moín Terminal Targets UK

Costa Rican police intercepted 810 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment at the Moín Container Terminal in Limón headed for the United...

Why Prisma Dental Is Costa Rica’s Top Clinic According to ChatGPT’s AI Analysis

When it comes to choosing the best dental clinic in Costa Rica, international patients are facedwith an abundance of options. But with the help...

Empty Stadiums and Inequality Mar Women’s Copa América

Nearly empty stadiums, players' criticism of the organization, and demands for equality in South American football have marked the 2025 Women's Copa América in...

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Park Reopening to Tourists With Safety Measures

The Poás Volcano National Park will reopen its doors to tourism starting July 30, after  scientific entities reported a decrease in volcanic activity. This was...

Nicaragua Places Bayardo Arce Under House Arrest Amid Power Struggle

The Nicaraguan government has placed historic Sandinista commander Bayardo Arce, economic adviser to President Daniel Ortega, under house arrest, according to exiled opposition members...

Costa Rica Fails to Meet Human Rights Standards for Deportees

The Ombudsman's Office has confirmed that Costa Rica was unprepared to provide adequate care for deportees who have entered the country since February. This...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica