The United Nations witnessed a confrontation on Monday between the United States and China regarding the Panama Canal, where Washington warned that Beijing’s influence over this vital waterway could threaten global trade and security, while China considered the American accusations a pretext for seizing the canal, according to the American Associated Press agency.

The confrontation took place during a meeting of the UN Security Council, where Panama’s President José Raúl Molino affirmed the canal’s neutrality and his country’s ownership of the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Panama is chairing the council this month, and Molino was presiding over a meeting on maritime security challenges. Interpol Secretary-General Valdetsi Orikeiza told members that these challenges include piracy, armed robbery, transnational crime, and cybercriminals using artificial intelligence as a weapon to attack ports suffering from “weak cybersecurity and high exposure.”

US President Donald Trump had highlighted the Panama issue before winning the November elections, suggesting that his country consider regaining control of the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of ceding influence to China.

The US built the canal in the early 20th century to facilitate the passage of commercial and military ships between its coasts, and control was transferred to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, emphasized before the council that “Panama has continuously and efficiently managed the canal and made significant contributions to global navigation and trade,” affirming that “China always respects the permanent neutrality of the canal and strongly supports Panama’s right to protect its sovereignty over it and ensure its openness and smooth operation.”

US Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea, who spoke afterward, criticized China, expressing concern about “its excessive influence in the Panama Canal area, especially on critical infrastructure and port operations.”

She alluded to Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, stating that “China’s broad and illegal maritime claims and aggressive actions demonstrate its threat to maritime security and trade.” She added that the US rejects these claims and supports countries opposing them.

Shea said, “China’s influence in the canal area poses not only a risk to Panama and the United States but also a potential threat to global trade and security.”