“The Canal belongs to Panamanians, sovereignty is not negotiable": Central American authorities respond to Trump's statements

Meanwhile , experts believe that Mr. Trump's real goal may have been intimidation, possibly to get the Panamanian government to favorably treat American ships using the strait. 

If the US wanted to violate international law and act like Vladimir Putin, the US could invade Panama and restore the canal. No one would accept this as a legitimate act, and it would not only seriously damage its image, but also the instability of the canal

Conclusions of the residents of Panama

Raul Arias de Para, an ecotourism entrepreneur and a descendant of one of the country's founding politicians, said that talk of American military force evoked memories of the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama. The military action, he noted, was aimed at overthrowing the country's authoritarian leader Manuel Noriega.

It was not an invasion to colonize or seize territory. It was tragic for those who lost their loved ones, but it freed us from a formidable dictatorship

On Mr. Trump's threat to send the military to retake the canal, he said: 

This possibility is so remote, so absurd

Addendum

President José Raul Mulino had previously spoken out about Trump's claims to the Panama Canal :

Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent territories belongs to Panama and will continue to do so

Recall

US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he does not rule out the use of military force to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. At the same time, he noted that these territories are necessary for the economic security of the United States.

Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland and published photos and videos of his visit. The trip came after his father reiterated his desire to gain control of the Danish territory.

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