Brasília (EFE).- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Thursday Brazil’s adherence to the Permanent Neutrality Treaty of the Canal in a visit to Brasília by his Panamanian counterpart, José Raúl Mulino.
“Brazil fully supports its (Panama’s) sovereignty over the Panama Canal, which it has administered with guarantees of neutrality and efficiency for more than 25 years,” declared the Brazilian leader, confirming his country’s adherence to the Treaty.
Lula also indirectly criticized the policies and threats of the US president, Donald Trump, who, since taking office in January, has suggested that the US will “reclaim” the Panama Canal.
When announcing Brazil’s adherence, Lula stated that Latin America is experiencing “a critical period,” during which “attempts are being made to re-establish ancient hegemonies” and “trade is being used as a tool of coercion and blackmail.”
According to Mulino, “it was a century-long struggle until, through negotiation, both parties (Panama and the US) agreed on the Treaty of Neutrality.”
This document was signed by over 40 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and it resulted from the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, which sealed the transfer of the canal to Panama in 1997.
According to the Treaty of Neutrality, the canal “will be permanently neutral as an international transit waterway” and will remain under Panamanian sovereignty, in accordance with the regime set out in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. EFE
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