[Panamanian Foreign Minister refuted the US Defense Minister’s remarks that control of the canal belongs to Panama] On November 12, in response to US Defense Secretary Hegseth’s remarks that the United States and Panama jointly control the Panama Canal, Panamanian Foreign Minister Martinez-Acha refuted it on the 11th, emphasizing that the sovereignty and control of the canal belong entirely to Panama. Hegseth claimed at a press conference held at the Pentagon on the 10th that the United States and the Panamanian government jointly control the Panama Canal. Martinez-Acha said in an interview with local media on the 11th during the opening ceremony of the 12th American Cadastral and Real Estate Registration Network Conference: "In terms of the management of the Panama Canal, other countries have no control except Panama." He said that Panama's international security cooperation with other countries does not mean transferring control or sovereignty of the canal to other countries.