A slap in the face response to Trump, who has his eyes on the Panama Canal.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino stated that the status of the Panama Canal is not open to discussion. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Mulino emphasized that they will not negotiate with the United States regarding the Panama Canal.

"THERE IS NOTHING TO DISCUSS"

Referring to the statements made by the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, Mulino said, "It is not possible for this President to speak with an intention to reassess the legal and political reality of the Panama Canal being in Panama's hands. If there is such an intention, there is nothing to discuss."

"THE PANAMA CANAL IS NOT OPEN TO DISCUSSION"

Mulino stated that the Panama Canal is a source of pride for Panamanians, saying, "The canal belongs to Panama and is owned by Panamanians. This fact has been achieved through the tears, labor, and sacrifices of the country and is not open to discussion. The Panama Canal is not open to discussion." He also addressed the process regarding the transit fees of the canal, stating, "Transit fees in the canal cannot be determined by the arbitrary decisions of the president or the administrator. There is a respected established process in this regard, and this process is conducted in a completely transparent manner."

Responding to Trump's sarcastic Christmas message claiming "Chinese soldiers are managing the Panama Canal," Mulino said, "There is absolutely no intervention or participation from China regarding the Panama Canal. For God's sake, there are no Chinese soldiers in the Panama Canal."

WHAT DID TRUMP SAY?

On December 22, Trump accused Panama of demanding excessively high fees for the use of the Panama Canal, stating that they would demand its return to the United States if it was not managed properly. Trump described former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's transfer of the canal's management to Panama as a "mistake," noting that the canal was given to Panama as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries "not for the benefit of others."