“Panama invites countries to adhere to the Canal Neutrality Protocol”

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Panama invited the governments of Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Slovakia to adhere to the Protocol of the Permanent Neutrality Treaty of the Canal.

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So far, around 40 States have adhered to the Protocol, while some 152 have yet to do so, which means that only a minority of States have formally assumed this specific commitment to the neutrality of the Canal.

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Among the most recent accessions are Austria, which became the newest State to accede to the Protocol, and the case of Switzerland, whose Parliament approved the accession and is in the process of formalizing the corresponding deposit.

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The exact figure may vary over time as new States deposit their instruments of accession, but the general outlook shows a legally robust neutrality regime.

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Of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries, Barbados acceded in 1987 to the Protocol, which is why Foreign Minister Martínez Acha Vásquez urged the Barbadian government to promote the rest of the Caribbean nations to sign this important international agreement, which he said ensures peace, neutrality, and free transit through the interoceanic waterway.

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Foreign Ministers Raina Forbin and Javier Martínez Acha Vásquez, of Panama and Haiti, respectively, spoke about security in the Caribbean nation.

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Gathered, Panama and Barbados reviewed the shared agenda oriented towards intensifying dialogue focused on mutual benefit and sustainable development of both Caribbean nations, in addition to maritime security and sovereignty.

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The Panamanian Foreign Minister met with the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Wilfred Nicholas Morris, as well as with Christopher Perez Sinckler, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Barbados, and with his counterpart from Haiti, Raina Forbin.

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In the meeting with Foreign Minister Forbin, Martínez-Acha Vásquez addressed the security situation in that Caribbean nation.

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“Panama is close to Haiti in its efforts to combat armed gangs and organized crime because they represent the main threat to our democracies”, stated Martínez-Acha Vásquez.

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Minister Forbin thanked Panama for its support in security matters and the fight against organized crime, in addition to raising her country’s interest in having the company COPA Airlines consider including the destination of Cap-Haïtien in its flights.

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The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Juraj Blanár (left), received the invitation for his country to adhere to the Protocol of Neutrality.

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The meeting with the representatives of the Caribbean nations also aimed to consolidate Panama’s strategic, commercial, and security agenda.

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Meanwhile, the invitation to adhere to the protocol of the Treaty on the Permanent Neutrality of the Canal was also extended by Martínez Acha Vásquez to the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Juraj Blanár.

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The meetings with these authorities took place within the framework of the so-called High-Level Week of the Bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress.

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The accession of a State to the Protocol of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal means that the signatory nation, even without being a party to the original bilateral treaty between Panama and the United States, decides to formally recognize the permanent neutrality regime of the Canal.

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It associates itself with its objectives and is internationally obligated to respect it and to ensure that the vessels flying its flag comply with the applicable rules both in times of peace and in times of war. Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), in Panama.

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The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in various resolutions has insisted on the hemispheric and global nature of the interest in the neutrality of the Canal.

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It was reiterated that neutrality applies both in peace and in war, the Canal must be open to peaceful transit, and all use of the Canal must be based on equal treatment, without discrimination.

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