Panama erupts in protests as U.S. and Trump renew canal dispute

Protests erupted in Panama City as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with President Raúl Mulino, amid tensions over the Panama Canal. Demonstrators burned posters of Trump and Rubio, rejecting U.S. influence, while Panama reaffirmed its sovereignty over the strategic waterway.

Mass protests broke out in Panama City on Sunday as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country for talks with President Raúl Mulino. Demonstrators condemned U.S. interference in the Panama Canal, burning images of Donald Trump and Rubio and holding banners that read "Panama is not for sale."

The unrest follows Trump’s remarks suggesting that China’s presence near the canal poses a security threat to the United States. He has refused to rule out military action and has raised the possibility of sanctions on Panamanian-flagged vessels entering U.S. ports.

Panama’s President Raúl Mulino pushed back against U.S. concerns, reaffirming that the Panama Canal Authority operates the waterway independently.

"The canal is operated by our country and will continue to be," Mulino stated.

While tensions over the canal remain unresolved, Panama and the U.S. made progress on migration policies. Mulino and Rubio discussed expanding a repatriation program to address rising migrant flows through the Darién Gap.

The U.S. secretary of state’s visit is part of a broader tour of Central America and the Caribbean, aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and addressing regional security concerns.

Despite these efforts, the canal dispute has escalated political tensions, with protests signaling growing opposition to U.S. influence in Panama.

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