Singapore to join international agreement on neutrality of the Panama Canal

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino (left) called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during his state visit to Singapore on Oct 5 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tanglin.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Published Oct 05, 2026, 08:15 PM

Updated Oct 05, 2026, 08:15 PM

SINGAPORE - Singapore will join an international agreement to observe and respect the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

It will also negotiate a bilateral mutual legal assistance agreement with Panama to better tackle transborder crime, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Oct 5 as Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino wrapped up a three-day state visit to Singapore.

President Mulino was in Singapore from Oct 3 to Oct 5 for his first visit to the country as head of state at the invitation of President Tharman. It is the first visit by a Panamanian head of state to Singapore in 10 years.

Speaking at a state banquet hosted in honour of President Mulino and his spouse, President Tharman said small states must work together to strengthen institutions that uphold international law amid trade disruptions and an unpredictable global landscape.

He added that Singapore and Panama share a deep interest in upholding freedom of navigation and international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

That is why Singapore has decided to accede to the protocol to the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, said President Tharman.

The treaty establishes a regime of permanent neutrality over the Panama Canal , which means - among other things - that the waterway will remain open to the peaceful transit of vessels of all nations in times of peace and war.

It was signed in 1977 by Panama and the US, which previously held control of the waterway.

The Panama Canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through Panama. The 82km-long waterway has in recent years been caught up in strategic competition between the US and China as both countries vie for influence over key ports.

Singapore’s decision signals its commitment to maritime safety and security, and to upholding freedom of navigation through the waterway, which is one of the world’s most important maritime arteries, said President Tharman.

Forty-one states, including France, Germany, Korea, Russia, Switzerland, the UK, the Philippines and Vietnam, have acceded to the protocol to the treaty, which was open for accession in 1979.

President Mulino was accompanied on his visit by a delegation comprising Panama Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Eduardo Martinez-Acha Vasquez, Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza and senior officials.

They were joined at the banquet by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murai Pillai and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Alvin Tan .

President Tharman also noted that bilateral ties between Singapore and Panama have grown steadily since both countries established diplomatic relations 44 years ago in 1982, underpinned by their shared destinies and outlook as maritime nations.

In 2025, Panama was Singapore’s third largest trading partner in goods in Latin America, with bilateral trade in goods, including imports from Panama like textiles, coffee and whisky, reaching $6.2 billion.

The two nations both sit at the strategic crossroads of global trade and serve as critical junctions on the “great maritime highway” between Asia and the Americas, noted President Tharman.

He said this shared history as maritime bridges makes Singapore and Panama natural partners with considerable room to deepen cooperation.

Singapore can also serve as a gateway for Panamanian companies to access South-east Asia, he noted.

Both countries have also agreed to commence negotiations on a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty to strengthen information-sharing and legal cooperation between the two nations, said President Tharman.

The agreement will provide an enhanced framework for both countries to make requests for and provide assistance with criminal investigations and proceedings, said the Ministry of Law on Oct 5.

President Tharman also announced that Singapore-based airport ground services provider SATS and Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport signed a pact on Oct 5 to strengthen air cargo connectivity and support the development of Panama as a leading logistics gateway for the Americas.

Earlier in the day, President Mulino called on President Tharman and met with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

PM Wong and President Mulino discussed regional and international developments, as well as opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas like trade and investment, logistics and connectivity, said MFA in a statement on Oct 5.

Both leaders also witnessed the signing of the deal between SATS and Tocumen International Airport at MFA.

President Mulino, who became Panama’s President in 2024, also visited the National Orchid Garden, where he had an orchid named in his honour.

Wong Yang is a journalist who covers politics and policy.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Maritime and shipping

10月5日，巴拿马总统若泽·劳尔·穆利诺（左）在新加坡进行国事访问期间，于东陵外交部拜会了新加坡总统尚达曼。

图片来源：联合早报

发布于 2026 年 10 月 5 日晚上 8:15

更新于2026年10月5日晚上8:15

新加坡——新加坡将加入一项国际协议，遵守并尊重巴拿马运河的永久中立地位。巴拿马运河是世界上最繁忙的航道之一。

新加坡总统尚达曼于10月5日表示，新加坡还将与巴拿马谈判一项双边司法互助协议，以更好地打击跨境犯罪。当天，巴拿马总统若泽·劳尔·穆利诺结束了对新加坡为期三天的国事访问。

穆利诺总统于10月3日至5日应新加坡总统尚达曼的邀请，以国家元首身份首次访问新加坡。这也是10年来巴拿马国家元首首次访问新加坡。

在为穆利诺总统及其夫人举办的国宴上，尚达曼总统发表讲话，称在贸易中断和不可预测的全球形势下，小国必须共同努力，加强维护国际法的机构。

他还补充说，新加坡和巴拿马在维护航行自由和国际法方面有着浓厚的兴趣，特别是1982年《联合国海洋法公约》。

正因如此，新加坡决定加入有关巴拿马运河永久中立和运营的条约议定书，达曼总统说。

该条约确立了巴拿马运河的永久中立制度，这意味着——除其他事项外——该水道在和平时期和战争时期将对所有国家的船只和平通行保持开放。

该协议于 1977 年由巴拿马和美国签署，此前巴拿马和美国控制着这条水道。

巴拿马运河连接太平洋和大西洋，途经巴拿马。这条全长82公里的水道近年来卷入了美中两国的战略竞争，两国都在争夺对关键港口的控制权。

新加坡总统尚达曼表示，新加坡的这一决定表明了其对海上安全保障的承诺，以及对维护这条世界上最重要的海上动脉之一——航道——航行自由的承诺。

包括法国、德国、韩国、俄罗斯、瑞士、英国、菲律宾和越南在内的 41 个国家加入了该条约的议定书，该议定书于 1979 年开放加入。

穆利诺总统访问期间，陪同他访问的代表团成员包括巴拿马外交部长哈维尔·爱德华多·马丁内斯-阿查·巴斯克斯、运河事务部长何塞·拉蒙·伊卡萨和高级官员。

出席宴会的还有新加坡外交部长维文·巴拉克里希南、律政部长兼内政部第二部长唐振辉、律政部兼交通部高级政务部长穆莱·皮莱以及外交和国家发展部政务部长陈庆炎。

尚达曼总统还指出，自新加坡和巴拿马两国于 1982 年建交以来，两国双边关系稳步发展，这得益于两国作为海洋国家的共同命运和愿景。

2025年，巴拿马成为新加坡在拉丁美洲的第三大货物贸易伙伴，双边货物贸易额（包括从巴拿马进口的纺织品、咖啡和威士忌等）达到62亿美元。

尚达曼总统指出，两国都位于全球贸易的战略十字路口，是连接亚洲和美洲的“海上高速公路”上的重要枢纽。

他表示，新加坡和巴拿马作为海上桥梁的共同历史使两国成为天然的合作伙伴，并有很大的空间深化合作。

他还指出，新加坡也可以作为巴拿马企业进入东南亚市场的门户。

尚达曼总统表示，两国还同意开始就双边司法互助条约进行谈判，以加强两国之间的信息共享和法律合作。

10月5日，韩国法律部表示，该协议将为两国提出刑事调查和诉讼请求和提供协助提供更完善的框架。

尚达曼总统还宣布，总部位于新加坡的机场地面服务供应商新翔集团（SATS）与巴拿马城托库门国际机场于10月5日签署了一项协议，旨在加强航空货运连通性，并支持巴拿马发展成为美洲领先的物流门户。

当天早些时候，穆利诺总统拜会了尚达曼总统，并在外交部会见了总理黄循财。

外交部在10月5日发表的声明中表示，黄英贤总理和穆利诺总统讨论了区域和国际形势发展，以及加强在贸易和投资、物流和互联互通等领域合作的机会。

两位领导人还在外交部见证了 SATS 与托库门国际机场签署协议。

穆利诺总统将于 2024 年就任巴拿马总统，他还参观了国家兰花园，园内有一株兰花以他的名字命名。

黄阳是一位报道政治和政策的记者。

外交部

尚达曼

海事和航运