After Panama effectively ended China’s authority over the canal built by the American republic, the Panama Canal, they followed up with another concession to the Trump administration. The Panama government announced U.S. warships can now use the canal freely, as it was intended to be according to the contract that saw the U.S. hand over the canal to Panama under the Carter regime.
Panama eliminates charge for US government ships sailing through canal: State Department – Le Monde
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The Panama Canal Authority on Wednesday, February 5, denied it will allow US government vessels to transit the interoceanic waterway for free, as the US State Department announced earlier. “The Panama Canal Authority, which is empowered to set tolls and other fees for transiting the canal, reports that it has not made any adjustments to them,” the agency said in a statement.
The United States earlier claimed that its government vessels would be allowed to sail for free through the Panama Canal, following heavy pressure from President Donald Trump. “US government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year,” the State Department said in a post on social media platform X.
It was the first public announcement of promises hinted at by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that Panama offered concessions during his talks on Sunday. Rubio said he had told Panama that it was unfair for the United States to be in a position to defend the vital waterway and also to be charged for its use.