1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

President Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and reckless military posturing toward Panama are deeply concerning. The proposal to invade a sovereign nation and seize control of the Panama Canal by force represents a dangerous escalation of American interventionism and imperialism. Such blatant violations of international law and norms cannot be tolerated in the 21st century. The history of U.S. meddling and military intervention in Panama, from the canal's deadly construction overseen by the U.S. government to the 1989 invasion that left hundreds of Panamanian civilians dead, is a shameful legacy that must not be repeated. Panamanian sovereignty and self-determination must be respected. I urge you to forcefully condemn any plans for U.S. military aggression against Panama and use all available diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions. A rules-based international order requires the U.S. to lead by example in upholding principles of non-intervention and respect for the territorial integrity of other nations. Threats of force over economic interests set a dangerous precedent and undermine American moral authority worldwide. The people of Panama, and the world, deserve leaders who will pursue peaceful conflict resolution and mutually beneficial cooperation over the cynical pursuit of geopolitical dominance through force. I implore you to be a voice of restraint and to uphold America's highest democratic values by categorically rejecting President Trump's warmongering towards our Panamanian partners.