The people and the waterway at the center of the Panama Canal

Summary

Consider This from NPR: The People and the Waterway at the Center of the Panama Canal

Release Date: February 3, 2025
Host: Ari Shapiro

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ari Shapiro delves into the escalating tensions surrounding the Panama Canal, a vital artery of global trade. Triggered by President Donald Trump's provocative remarks about "taking back" the canal, the situation has ignited a mix of diplomatic responses, public protests, and satirical backlash within Panama. This summary captures the episode's comprehensive exploration of the issue, highlighting key discussions, insights, and perspectives from various stakeholders.

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Trump's Provocative Claims and Initial Reactions

The controversy began when President Donald Trump publicly expressed intentions to reclaim the Panama Canal, a statement that sent shockwaves through Panama and the international community. Shapiro opens the episode by recounting the immediate reactions:

Ari Shapiro [00:00]: "When President Donald Trump started talking about taking back the Panama Canal right around Christmas, there was a lot of reaction from people in Panama, diplomatic but firm statements from the president, chants and American flag burning in the streets. And also memes."

This declaration not only sparked diplomatic tensions but also fueled public outrage and creative expressions of dissent among Panamanians.

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Panamanian Satire: El Gallinazo's Response

Central to the Panamanian public’s reaction is El Gallinazo, a renowned satire group. Members Joel Diaz and Yessica Salado provide insight into how humor has become a tool for coping with political stress:

Yessica Salado [00:16]: "We get angry, but it's also funny because, come on."

Yessica Salado [00:43]: "What El Gallinazo does is that it's like a translator of very important and serious news, but in a Panamanian slang. So everyone can be like, inform, but entertain at the same time."

El Gallinazo uses satire to comment on serious political matters, making complex issues accessible and engaging for the general public. Their illustrations, such as Esperanza Villalobos's depiction of Trump as a crying baby pointing at the canal (00:25), highlight the group's critical stance towards both Panamanian and foreign politicians.

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Panama Canal: A Pillar of Global Trade

Shapiro provides a historical context to emphasize the canal's significance:

Ari Shapiro [04:11]: "This spot has sat at the center of global trade for more than a century, connecting two oceans. The things Americans use every day pass through here from gasoline to food."

Since 1999, Panama has maintained control over the canal, a strategic asset initially handed over by the United States under treaties signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, which underscored a commitment to fairness and international cooperation.

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U.S. Political Maneuvering and Diplomatic Relations

The episode highlights U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's involvement following Trump's statements. Rubio's visit aimed to address the tensions, emphasizing that Trump's claims about Chinese control over the canal were unfounded:

Marco Rubio [04:24]: "China is running the Panama Canal that was not given to China, that was given to Panama foolishly, but they violated the agreement and we're going to take it back or something very powerful is going to happen."

However, these assertions were quickly debunked:

Ambassador John Feeley [09:30]: "The two port concessions that a Hong Kong based company operate do not have the military logistical capability to shut the canal down."

Rubio's confrontation with Panama's President José Raúl Molino underscores the delicate balance between asserting U.S. influence and respecting Panama's sovereignty.

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Panamanian Sovereignty and National Identity

President Molino of Panama firmly rejects any notion of relinquishing control over the canal:

President Molina [05:15]: "Panama fully took control of the passage in 1999, but when President Jimmy Carter signed those treaties back in 1977, he said the agreements showed the kind of leader he wanted the US to be."

Public sentiment in Panama strongly favors national sovereignty and views the canal as a core aspect of national identity. This sentiment is vividly expressed through widespread displays of the Panamanian flag and public demonstrations:

Marlenis Nunez, High School Art Teacher [10:54]: "The canal is ours. I'll have to kill us all, she says. We are small, but we have a huge heart. You are a teacher. You are not a soldier."

These expressions of national pride highlight the canal's integral role in Panamanian society and the collective resistance against perceived external threats.

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Economic Implications and Global Politics

The Panama Canal remains a crucial conduit for global commerce, with approximately 40% of U.S. maritime traffic passing through it. The episode explores the broader economic implications of any potential disruption:

Ari Shapiro [05:25]: "This is one of the few places in the world where you actually want to be on a sinking ship. Be welcome to one of the wonders of the world. Be welcome to the Panama Canal."

The canal's expansion in 2016 has increased its capacity, handling about 35 ships daily, predominantly from the U.S. This underscores the canal's strategic importance, not just for Panama but for global trade dynamics.

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Public Protests and Collective Sentiment

Panamanian protests reflect a united front against external interference. Demonstrations range from the burning of American flags to creative acts of defiance, such as ice carving:

Ari Shapiro [10:14]: "In protests all over the city, Panamanians made their feelings clear. In one, construction workers burned an American flag in the middle of a major street."

These protests signify a broader resistance against what is perceived as neocolonialism and the encroachment of powerful nations into Panamanian affairs.

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Conclusion: The Future of the Panama Canal

As the episode concludes, Shapiro emphasizes the precarious nature of the situation:

Ambassador John Feeley [09:25]: "He says he's been warning about China's influence in Latin America since at least 2017."

While Trump's threats have stirred significant unrest, the true impact hinges on the unfolding geopolitical maneuvers and the resilience of Panamanian sovereignty. The episode closes without a definitive resolution, highlighting the ongoing tension and the canal's pivotal role in international relations.

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Production Credits

This episode was produced by Karen Zamora, Alejandra Marquez, Hanse Rolando Arrieta, Andrea Salcedo, and Connor Donovan. Editing was handled by Courtney Dorning and Sami Yenigun, who also serves as the executive producer.

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Note: This summary encapsulates the key discussions and perspectives presented in the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to Consider This.

Transcript

[Ari Shapiro]

When President Donald Trump started talking about taking back the Panama Canal right around Christmas, there was a lot of reaction from people in Panama, diplomatic but firm statements from the president, chants and American flag burning in the streets. And also memes.

[Yessica Salado]

We get angry, but it's also funny because, come on.

[Ari Shapiro]

That is Joel Diaz and Yessica Salado. They're members of the super popular Panamanian satire group called El Gainazo. That name refers to the black vultures that are all over Panama City. Now, the vulture is definitely not the national bird, but unlike the majestic harpy eagle that is on Panama's crest, the vultures are actually part of people's everyday lives. Here's Yessica.

[Yessica Salado]

What El Gallinazo does is that it's like a translator of very important and serious news, but in a Panamanian slang. So everyone can be like, inform, but entertain at the same time.

[Ari Shapiro]

We met the team at El Gallonazo's offices in Panama City, and we came here to find out how Trump's threats are resonating with the people who could face the most severe consequences if he follows through. And we're here at a time when Panama is in the global spotlight. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio just wrapped up a visit to deliver and perhaps clarify Trump's message about the canal.

[Yessica Salado]

We love controversial content, so this for us is like a gold mine.

[Ari Shapiro]

One of the group's illustrators is Esperanza Villalobos. She recently drew an image of President Trump as a baby pointing at the Panama Canal and crying, I want that one.

[Joel Diaz]

I think it's funny because we're looking at our politicians and we believe that our politicians are low material, iq intelligence.

[Ari Shapiro]

You think your politicians are dumb?

[Joel Diaz]

Yeah. So when these kind of things, because when we are talking about our politicians every day, people in the comments are like, yeah, we're nothing like usa. They are intelligent and we are nothing compared to them. And now when this happens, it's like, yeah, we're the same. We have the same kind of material of politicians. They are funny everywhere.

[Ari Shapiro]

Politicians all around the world share some of the same qualities, is what you're saying right now.

[Joel Diaz]

Now, yes.

[Ari Shapiro]

So what did you actually do with that material? Like, what was the meme that you created?

[Yessica Salado]

We have this meme that it says, it's from the movie Suander. Yeah. Saying like, Panama is so hot right now. Like, we're. We're in the mouth of everyone. We're hot. Yeah.

[Ari Shapiro]

There's a common expression in the United States which is you have to laugh because if you don't you'll cry. And I wonder if that kind of describes the moment that you all are in right now. Yeah, yeah, totally.

[Joel Diaz]

Also, I find a lot of peace in the chaos. When something bad happens to you and you feel like, why me? And then you open a meme and you see the comments and you see like, oh, this is affecting everyone. You find peace when it's a collective thing.

[Ari Shapiro]

Consider Trump's threat to take back the Panama Canal has the potential to reshuffle global politics. We'll meet the people and the 51 mile waterway in the middle of it all. From NPR, I'm Ari Shapiro. It's consider this from NPR. Right now I am in a building in what used to be known as the Panama Canal Zone. It's just steps from the waterway. This spot has sat at the center of global trade for more than a century, connecting two oceans. The things Americans use every day pass through here from gasoline to food. And now this spot is also at the center of President Trump's global expansionist agenda. Monday morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a visit to Panama. And here's what his boss, President Trump, said on Sunday.

[Marco Rubio]

China is running the Panama Canal that was not given to China, that was given to Panama foolishly, but they violated the agreement and we're going to take it back or something very powerful is going to happen.

[Ari Shapiro]

His claim that China operates the canal is false, and we'll dig into that more in a minute. When Rubio woke up here in Panama City yesterday morning, he went to services at a church where cameras were not allowed. But a different Sunday morning service livestreamed into Panamanians homes all over the country. Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa offered a homily that gives you a sense of how Panamanians are feeling right now.

[Yessica Salado]

Laso verania el buen nombre de Panama no ser regala ni se negoci.

[Ari Shapiro]

Sovereignty and the good name of Panama are not given away or negotiated, he said from the pulpit. They are defended with determination and love for the homeland. Trump's focus on the canal has brought out a nationalistic streak here in Panama. The country's flag flutters along roadsides, on buildings and in front yards. Panamanians told me they don't even see this many flags on Independence Day. After Sunday morning services, Secretary Rubio met with Panama's president, Jose Raul Molino. Here's how the president described that meeting. No senti paranada un un clima de controversia, un clima de y respeto. I didn't feel any sense of controversy, just a climate of respect, he said. The State Department described things differently, according to a spokesperson's statement. Rubio told Molino that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that China has too much influence over the canal, which he says violates international treaties. The statement continued, absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect influence its rights. Rubio did not comment publicly on the meeting. President Molino told reporters he's happy to discuss immigration and drug trafficking, but the canal is not up for debate. Panama's sovereignty is not in question. That is very important, he said. Panamanians will tell you that this fight is about identity, neocolonialism and whether strong countries can push around weaker ones. And that may all be true, but narrowly speaking, this fight is specifically about a 51 mile waterway that is essential to global commerce. 40% of US maritime traffic passes through this canal. Panama fully took control of the passage in 1999, but when President Jimmy Carter signed those treaties back in 1977, he said the agreements showed the kind of leader he wanted the US to be.

[Joel Diaz]

They mark the commitment of the United States to the belief that fairness and not force should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world.

[Ari Shapiro]

That line about fairness not force is so meaningful to Panama, it is actually on a metal plaque at the base of a statue in the heart of this city. In 2016, Panama expanded the canal and now about 35 ships pass through daily. The US accounts for more than three quarters of the traffic. This is one of the few places in the world where you actually want to be on a sinking ship. Be welcome to one of the wonders of the world. Be welcome to the Panama Canal. The visitor center at the Miraflores Laks may be the best place to see the canal in action. Picture three enormous steps. Millions of gallons of water flood into or out of the locks to float massive ships one step at a time from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, or vice versa. Tourists from all over the world come here. Most of the Panamanians you meet at the Miraflores Locks are hosting folks from out of town like Edwin Scott, who brought a friend from Mexico to show off his country's pride and joy. For a Panamanian, there's just no words. He says the canal is the most important institution we have. He believes this fight isn't really about Panama. He thinks his country just had the bad luck to get caught between two giants, the US and China. I think Mr. Trump has this psychosis with Chinese people. There aren't Chinese people in the canal, he says. What do you think will happen? I don't know, because he's obsessed with the Chinese people, scott says. So back to China's role here. There is no truth to Trump's claim that China operates the canal, but a company based in Hong Kong called CK Hutchinson holdings operates two of the five ports surrounding the canal. We asked the company for an interview, and they declined. We also requested interviews with the Canal Authority Secretary Rubio, the president of Panama, and the mayor of Panama City. The fact that none of them agreed may be a sign of just how delicate this moment is. So to clarify some of the facts here, I called Ambassador John Feeley. He's a career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Panama appointed late in the Obama administration. He stayed in the role for two years under Trump. He still knows lots of people in Panama, and he says this controversy caught them all off guard.

[Marco Rubio]

And so I'm telling the Panamanians that they need to take this deadly seriously.

[Ari Shapiro]

He says he's been warning about China's influence in Latin America since at least 2017.

[Marco Rubio]

I tried to get the Trump administration to pay a lot more attention to Panama's recognition of Beijing, and I got nothing.

[Ari Shapiro]

So, without being inflammatory, what is the threat that China poses to the United States? In Panama, the threat is not military.

[Marco Rubio]

The two port concessions that a Hong Kong based company operate do not have the military logistical capability to shut the canal down. The canal is run by an independent agency in Panama.

[Ari Shapiro]

He says the threat from China is more subtle. It's about economic engagement, and it stretches far beyond the Panama Canal to places all over the region where China is investing and the US Is not. In protests all over the city, Panamanians made their feelings clear. In one, construction workers burned an American flag in the middle of a major street. At another, a woman showed up at the finish line pushing a cart. She shaved a massive block of ice into snow cones topped with condensed milk and fruit syrups. The teachers union organized this demonstration. The canal is ours, says a high school art teacher named Marlenis Nunez. He'll have to kill us all, she says. We are small, but we have a huge heart. You are a teacher. You are not a soldier.

[Yessica Salado]

No.

[Ari Shapiro]

No, but I'm willing to defend my canal, she says. Panama was the first country Rubio visited as secretary of state, but he kept a low profile, saying nothing publicly about the canal through all of his meetings and events yesterday. By the time he did say something on the record about the canal, he he was in El Salvador, and he mostly reiterated what President Trump had already said. This episode was produced by Karen Zamora, Alejandra Marquez, Hanse Rolando Arrieta, Andrea Salcedo and Connor Donovan. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Sami Yenigun, who's also our executive producer. It's consider this from npr, I'm Ari Shapiro.