Future of United States - Panamanian Relations

Abstract

On December 20, 1989 the United States launched Operation 'Just Cause' and sent its military forces into combat Panama. President Bush explained to the American people that he had ordered the execution of Operation 'Just Cause' for four reasons: to protect American lives and property; to protect the Panama Canal and the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977; to remove General Manuel Noriega from power and to bring him to the United States to stand trial on drug trafficking charges; and, to restore democracy to Panama. Does Operation 'Just Cause' symbolize a return to pre-1977 United States - Panamanian relations or will it return prove to be the beginning of a long and harmonious relationship between the two countries? This paper will review the history of the United States - Panamanian relations, consider the implications of Operation 'Just Cause,' discuss the terms of the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977 and whether the United States should abrogate those treaties, and, make recommendations for the future course of United States policy towards Panama. (sdw)

Document Details

• Document Type: Technical Report
• Publication Date: Apr 02, 1990
• Accession Number: ADA220644

Entities

People

• Joseph L. Graves Jr

Organizations

• United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Energy and Power Technologies
• Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Agreements
• Central America
• Department Of State
• Drug Trafficking
• Economic Sanctions
• Foreign Policy
• Foreign Relations
• Governments
• International Law
• Law
• National Politics
• National Security
• Political Systems
• Treaties
• United States
• United States Government
• War Colleges

Readers

• Government and Public Administration Law.
• International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
• Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.