Media reported on Panama's letter to the UN after Trump's statements about the Panama Canal

Panama has sent a letter to the United Nations (UN) after the statements of US President Donald Trump to take control of the Panama Canal. This was reported by Reuters on January 21, citing a letter from the republic's mission to UN Secretary General António Guterres.

"Panama sent a letter regarding President Donald Trump's statements during his inauguration speech, when he promised that the US would take back the Panama Canal," the agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying.

Also in his letter, Panama's representative to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, emphasized that threats to use force against the territorial integrity of any country are contrary to the principles that are spelled out in the UN charter.

In addition, there was a request to send the statement to the 15 other members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

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Earlier, on January 20, President Trump, who took office after being sworn in, promised to return the Panama Canal to the United States and rename the Gulf of Mexico as the American Canal.

On the same day, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected statements by incoming U.S. President Trump about his intention to gain control of the Panama Canal and emphasized its belonging to the country. The Panamanian president separately emphasized that "there is no country in the world that would interfere" in the management of the canal.