Panama invites Croatia to support Panama Canal neutrality

Panama has formally invited Croatia to join the international protocol ensuring the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal. The canal is a critical maritime route, facilitating approximately 5 percent of global maritime trade by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The diplomatic initiative was presented by Panamanian Ambassador Javier Enrique Caraballo Salazar during a meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanović in Zagreb. The Panamanian government seeks broad international support to safeguard the canal's neutrality amidst rising geopolitical tensions. This follows concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Chinese influence in the region and his questioning of current canal management.

The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, originally signed by Panama and the United States in 1977, guarantees that the waterway remains neutral and open to vessels from all nations without discrimination. While the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is currently considering the proposal, the government has not yet reached a final decision.