A Study On The Panama Canal Policy Of The United States (1969～1976)

The Nixon period was an important turning point in the policy of postwar U.S diplomacy , and Nixon made a major adjustments to the U.S diplomatic strategy when he came to power,to implement a "detente" strategy,which did not change the essence of its policy of containment,but took a different approach. Therefore,the foreign policy of the United States in Nixon period followed the policies of the previous periods.On the Panama Canal, Nixon insisted on the absolute control of the canal during his first term, leading to the interruption of the U.S-Panama Canal negotiations; during the second term, due to many reasons, Nixon adjusted the policy of Panama Canal, with the joint efforts of the United States and Panama, Therefore. with the joint efforts of the United States and Panama, eight basic principles of the negotiations were reached by the two sides,which lay a principled basis for the ultimate settlement of the canal problem.Then the two sides quickly reached an agreement in principle on Panama’s participation of the operation of canal, the canal defense and the jurisdiction of the canal zone.Nevertheless, owing to the great difference between the position of the United States and Panama on the canal issue, the disagreement within the U.S government and the impact of the U.S presidential election, the Panama Canal negotiations made no further progress.Even so,The United States and Panama have also reached a consensus on ways of solving the issue related to the right of using the land and waters in this area, and got a mutual understanding on many important issues; What’s more, in the course of the negotiations, both sides established a certain sense of trust, especially in the negotiations after the U.S president election, in addition to reached a consensus on some specifies issues,The two sides show a positive attitude of cooperation sustain credible negotiating momentum. Thus laying an important foundation on the final resolution of the Panama Canal problem.In the Nixon-Ford period, the United States made a strategic adjustment to Panama Canal policy for the its own strength and changes of the world situation, but it did not change its purpose of permanently controlling the canal. The essence of the policy is to try to return the Canal District to Panama, while ensuring United States the continued use of the Canal and the right to intervention on Canal affairs, that is giving up its direct control of the canal in exchange for the permanent control of the canal in substance.