A scheduled call between US President Donald Trump and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino was postponed on Friday, as confirmed by a statement from Panama’s President’s Office. The postponement was attributed to last-minute alterations in President Trump’s agenda, as conveyed by White House officials to the Panamanian Foreign Ministry.
The statement released on Friday mentioned that the call delay was a result of unforeseen changes in the American president’s schedule. The Panamanian Foreign Ministry is set to provide further information regarding the rescheduling of the call once both countries have coordinated a new date.
The call postponement occurred shortly after a contentious issue arose between the two countries. The US State Department had recently claimed that US government vessels were permitted to transit the Panama Canal without paying fees. This assertion was met with a firm rebuttal from Panamanian President Mulino, who labeled it as an “intolerable” falsehood.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later retracted the initial statement made by the State Department. Rubio clarified that while the US anticipates Panama to eliminate the fees, he acknowledged that Panama follows a specific set of laws and procedures concerning the Panamanian port.
