Panama is urging India to become a strategic partner in maintaining the neutrality of the Panama Canal, according to Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez during his recent state visit to New Delhi. Amid rising global geopolitical tensions surrounding the canal, he emphasized that Panama’s foreign policy and sovereignty are best defended through effective governance and responsible management of the canal.
The minister highlighted the canal’s growing significance due to changing global trade patterns, particularly with cargo shifting from the Suez Canal. He views the canal as an international asset that deserves global respect and is keen on fostering discussions with India’s external affairs ministry about joining the treaty for the canal’s neutrality.
In response to aggressive rhetoric from global powers, including remarks from former President Trump, Martinez-Acha Vasquez stated that Panama prefers to rely on factual evidence, such as the canal’s self-funded expansion, rather than engaging in disputes. While acknowledging the U.S. as Panama’s main security partner, he stressed the importance of a broader coalition of nations to uphold international law and safeguard the canal from geopolitical polarization, mentioning other supportive countries, including Austria and Switzerland.
