Chronology of U.S.-Panama Relations, 1903-2007
1903, November 3 - Panama splits from Colombia and becomes officially independent. The United States, under President Theodore Roosevelt, buys rights to build Panama Canal from the Compagnie Nouvelle du Canal de Panama and is given control of the Canal Zone in perpetuity. Work under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins on May 4 of the following year.
1914, August 15 – The Panama Canal is formally opened on August 15, 1914 with the transit of the cargo ship Ancon.
1964, January 9 – President Roberto F. Chiari Remón temporarily breaks off diplomatic relations with the U.S. over conflicts between Panamanian civilians and the U.S. Army.
1977, September 7 – The United States and Panama sign the Panama Canal Treaties in Washington, D.C., abrogating the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty of 1903. The treaties signed between U.S. President Jimmy Carter and General Omar Torrijos guaranteed that Panama would gain control of the Panama Canal after 1999.
1983, August - Former intelligence chief and one-time US Central Intelligence Agency informant Manuel Noriega promotes himself to General and becomes de facto leader of Panama as head of the National Guard. He builds up the military, and creates the Panama Defense Forces, greatly increasing its power over Panama's political and economic life.
1988, February 5 – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration indicts Noriega on federal drug charges; Noriega declares a state of emergency in the wake of a failed coup.
1989, May – The opposition wins general Presidential elections, but Noriega annuls the elections and declares U.S. interference. He declares a "state of war" in the face of increased threats by Washington. On December 20th, the U.S. invades Panama, ousts Noriega and Guillermo Endara, by all accounts the winner of the elections, is sworn in as President.
1992, September 16 – Noriega stands trial in Miami, Florida and is found guilty of drug and racketeering violations. He is sentenced to 40 years, to be served in a Florida Federal Penitentiary.
1999, May 2 - Mireya Moscoso, widow of Panama former President Arnulfo Arias, becomes Panama's first female president. This same year, in the U.S., Noriega’s sentence is reduced to 30 years.
1999, December 31 - Panama assumes full control over the Panama Canal, ending nearly a century of American jurisdiction over one of the world's most strategic waterways.
2004, May 2 - Martin Torrijos, son of former strongman General Omar Torrijos, wins the presidential elections.
2006, October 22 - An overwhelming majority of voters back plans for a US$5.25 billion Panama Canal Expansion in a national referendum. The scheme aims to double the capacity of the waterway by 2014.
2006, December 19 - Panama and the U.S. finish negotiations for a free trade agreement.
2007, June 28 – Panama and the US sign the Trade Promotion Agreement in Washington D.C.
2007, July 11 – Panama’s National Assembly ratifies US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.
