Singapore Joins the Panama Canal Neutrality Treaty.
Lawrence Wong on the right, pictured below. Panama President Mulino said…..“We are very pleased that this sister country has made this decision.” Singapore’s accession adds to Panama’s efforts to broaden international support for the Canal’s permanent neutrality regime.
Singapore announced on Monday, October 5, its decision to join the Protocol to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal , during the official visit of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino to that Asian country. The announcement was made by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during a bilateral meeting with Mulino, in which both leaders discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation between Panama and Singapore in trade, investment, logistics and connectivity. According to the Singapore government, the accession reflects the country’s commitment to maritime security and freedom of navigation, in accordance with the principles established in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Mulino Highlights Singapore’s Support for the Canal’s Neutrality.
President José Raúl Mulino praised the decision announced by the Singaporean government and highlighted the shared views between the two countries regarding free transit and the neutrality of the interoceanic waterway.
“We are very pleased that this sister country has made this decision,” Mulino said.
The Panamanian president also reported that both governments are working on the formation of a bilateral commission, with the aim of identifying projects of common interest and strengthening the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
“We are working on forming a bilateral commission to join efforts and common projects, so that we can learn from their best practices and they can achieve integration into the concept of Panama as a logistics hub,” he stated.
Singapore’s accession adds to Panama’s efforts to broaden international support for the Canal’s permanent neutrality regime.
Panama and Singapore Seek to Strengthen their Logistics Alliance.
Mulino’s agenda in Singapore also included progress on connectivity and air cargo. The Panamanian president and Prime Minister Wong were witnesses of honor during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SATS Ltd. and Tocumen International Airport, intended to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration. The agreement seeks to strengthen air cargo connectivity and contribute to the development of Panama as one of the main logistics gateways to the Americas. SATS is one of the leading international providers of air cargo handling services and a major airline catering operator in Asia, while Tocumen International Airport is one of Panama’s main air connection points.
