Jimmy Carter on Panama Canal Treaty

Jimmy Carter made concluding the negotiations for the Torrijos-Carter Treaties a high priority upon taking office, despite having previously expressed opposition during his 1976 campaign. He viewed the eventual transfer of the canal as a necessary step to establish fairness and mutual respect in U.S. relations with Latin America, believing the 1903 treaty had become an obstacle. Carter worked to secure bipartisan support and successfully lobbied Congress, which ratified the two treaties—one on neutrality and one on the transfer of control—in 1978. He signed the implementation legislation into law in 1979, solidifying the commitment to hand over the canal to Panama by December 31, 1999.

Despite strong opposition from conservatives who viewed it as surrendering a strategic asset, Carter framed the agreement as a symbol of the United States’ commitment to fairness over force. He, alongside his predecessors, recognized that failure to reach an accord risked regional unrest and international condemnation, viewing diplomacy as the superior strategy to secure long-term access and defense of the waterway. His predecessor, Gerald Ford, also supported the treaty framework, and the negotiations spanned four presidential administrations, evolving from earlier draft agreements.