U.S.Foreign Policy Towards Panama From 1977 To 1980

Since 1903,when the United States created the Republic of Panama for a canal,the Diplomatic relations between the United States and Panama have been centered around the Panama Canal.Panama is seeking a return to the sovereignty of the canal,but the United States is unwilling to relinquish its power to exercise the canal's sovereignty because of its political,economic and military strategic interests.In 1977,President Jimmy Carter came to power to change the "inaction" of the previous administration on Panama,and began to actively seek negotiations with Panama on the canal.First of all,America began to prepare for the new testament,made clearly that the basic position of the United States in the new testament is to ensure the canal is safe and effective to operation,and the core interest of America is to ensure the right to use the canal,not in control of the canal.Second,the United States sent negotiating team to Panama for specific negotiation.After several rounds of negotiations,the United States won the neutrality and defend right.Thirdly,the United States signed the “ Torrijos-Carter ” treaties with panama,after some concessions on Panama's economic compensation.The treaty restored the sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone,and gave the United States the right to maintain the canal's permanent neutrality and later to defend the canal.Finally,America congress formally approved the treaty after added a amendment,which points out that after the treaty the America can take action unilaterally to ensure the safety of the canal,including using military power,in accordance with the constitution of the United States.Under the carter administration in 1977-1980,the United States had the following factors in the adjustment of Panama policy: First,the United States was constrained by the world pattern.On the one hand,the Soviet Union launched the global push strategy in the 1970 s,which gradually infiltrated the region into Latin America,making the Latin American countries have a pro-soviet tendency;On the other hand,the tide of world decolonization was rising,and the third world countries had combined their voices to give Panama moral support.Secondly,in terms of the regional level,economic nationalism and political democratization movement in the70 s was further strengthened since world war II.the United States' new colonialpolicy in Latin America was difficult to maintain,which promoted the change of American policy towards Latin America.Thirdly,the transformation of the strategic value assessment of the canal in the United States and the implementation of the new policy in the carter administration promoted the change of American foreign policy in Panama.In the end,the independent diplomacy of Torrijos,the leader of the Panamanian government,and the continued efforts of the Panamanian people to reclaim the canal have hastened the shift in American policy towards Panama.From 1977 to 1980,the United States adjusted its policies to Panama.First,it balanced the interests of American groups and safeguarded the core interests of the United States in the Panama Canal Zone.Second,by restoring canal sovereignty,the diplomatic relations between the United States and Panama have been improved to some extent.At the same time,the anti-American sentiment in Latin America has been alleviated,leaving the United States in an international isolation.Finally,it is a effective containment of Soviet penetration in Central America.From 1977 to 1980,the United States' policy on Panama was essentially a political game between a typical big country and a small country,which had some enlightenment significance for China's diplomatic practice.