TorrijosCarter

TorrijosCarter refers to the period from 1977 to 1981 when General Omar Torrijos of Panama and President Jimmy Carter of the United States cooperated to negotiate and ratify the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. These treaties, signed in 1977, aimed to transfer control of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama.

Omar Torrijos, who had ruled Panama as a military dictator since 1968, saw the canal as a symbol of national sovereignty and sought its full return to Panamanian jurisdiction. Jimmy Carter, committed to a foreign policy emphasizing human rights and international cooperation, viewed the treaties as a way to improve U.S.-Latin American relations and rectify a historical imbalance.

The negotiations were complex and faced significant opposition in both countries. U.S. conservatives, including Ronald Reagan, argued that relinquishing control of the canal was a strategic blunder and a blow to American prestige. In Panama, while there was widespread support for the treaties, Torrijos's authoritarian rule also drew criticism.

Despite the challenges, the treaties were eventually ratified. The U.S. Senate approved them in 1978, and the process of transferring canal operations and ownership to Panama began, culminating on December 31, 1999. The Torrijos-Carter period is remembered as a significant moment in the history of U.S.-Panamanian relations and a landmark achievement in decolonization efforts.