Panama’s President Rejects US Claim of Free Canal Passage for American Ships

The U.S. State Department wrote on social media that U.S. government vessels can travel for free, which would save ’millions’ per year.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive for a meeting at the presidential palace in Panama City on Feb. 2, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The president of Panama on Feb. 6 denied a U.S. State Department claim that it had reached an agreement with his country to allow U.S. warships to transit the Panama Canal for free.

“I completely reject that statement yesterday,” Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said during his weekly news conference, adding that he had asked Panama’s ambassador in Washington to dispute the State Department’s statement.