Asking Panamanians about Losing the Panama Canal to The US

Investigative journalist and citizen reporter Nick Shirley takes to the streets of Panama in a compelling documentary-style video published on February 3, 2025, capturing raw and unfiltered public opinion on one of the most geopolitically charged questions of the moment: the potential transfer of control of the Panama Canal to the United States. The video, which has amassed over 245,000 views, reportedly documents Panamanian citizens sharing their perspectives on what many in the country allegedly view as a direct threat to their national sovereignty.

According to Shirley, the video centers on street interviews conducted with everyday Panamanians, offering an on-the-ground look at how residents of the canal zone nation are processing the geopolitical pressure and debate surrounding the future of one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and facilitates an enormous volume of global trade, has long been a symbol of Panamanian national identity — particularly since the United States formally handed control of the canal over to Panama under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which took full effect in 1999.

Shirley reports that the footage allegedly includes documentation of protests, suggesting that public sentiment in Panama has reportedly reached a boiling point over discussions about potential U.S. control. The presence of protests, as described in the video’s documentation, appears to indicate that for at least a segment of the Panamanian population, the issue is not merely political debate but a matter of national dignity and legal rights.

A significant component of the public discourse captured in the video reportedly involves concerns about treaty violations. According to Shirley, the Panamanians interviewed allegedly raised questions about whether any attempt by the United States to reassert control over the canal would constitute a violation of the existing international treaties that govern the waterway’s operation and sovereignty. These concerns, as Shirley documents them, reflect broader geopolitical anxieties about the relationship between smaller sovereign nations and larger global powers.

The timing of the video is notable. Published in early February 2025, Shirley’s street interviews reportedly come amid a renewed wave of international attention on the Panama Canal, driven in part by statements from U.S. political figures about the strategic importance of the waterway to American economic and military interests. According to Shirley, the Panamanian public appears to be acutely aware of these discussions, and the reactions documented on camera allegedly range from concern and frustration to outright opposition.

Shirley’s approach — going directly to the people most affected by the geopolitical debate — aligns with his broader journalistic mission of amplifying voices that are often absent from mainstream media narratives. Rather than relying on official government statements or diplomatic communiqués, Shirley reportedly brings the camera to ordinary citizens, allowing their unscripted reactions to form the backbone of the story.

The video serves as an important piece of citizen journalism documenting a developing international story with significant implications for U.S.-Latin American relations, global trade, and the principles of national sovereignty and treaty law. As the debate over the Panama Canal’s future continues to evolve, Shirley’s ground-level reporting allegedly provides a human dimension that is frequently missing from top-down geopolitical analysis.

With over 245,000 views since its publication, the video has clearly resonated with a wide audience interested in understanding how Panamanians themselves feel about the prospect of losing control of their most iconic national asset. According to Shirley, the conversations captured in the footage suggest that for many Panamanians, this is not an abstract political question — it is personal, it is legal, and it is deeply tied to their national identity.

In Nick Shirley’s Words

“Nick Shirley reportedly documents Panamanian citizens expressing deep concern over the possibility of the United States reasserting control over the Panama Canal, a waterway long considered central to Panama’s national sovereignty. [Paraphrased from video description]”

— Nick Shirley

“According to Shirley, the video allegedly captures protests taking place in Panama, reflecting a level of public opposition that goes beyond passive disagreement with U.S. geopolitical ambitions in the region. [Paraphrased from video description]”

— Nick Shirley

“Shirley reports that discussions captured in the street interviews allegedly include Panamanian residents raising concerns about potential treaty violations, suggesting that any move toward U.S. control could run afoul of existing international agreements governing the canal. [Paraphrased from video description]”

— Nick Shirley