PANAMA CITY - Panama has requested the US Embassy to correct and reissue a joint communique in which the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, omitted a phrase acknowledging Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal.

The English version of a communique published on Tuesday evening during Hegseth's visit to Panama left out the following point: "Secretary Hegseth recognized Panama's leadership and inalienable sovereignty over the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas", according to an official note from Panama's Foreign Affairs Ministry dated Wednesday.

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"The aforementioned phrase, which does not appear in the English version, is essential to accurately convey the intent and content of the communique and ensure consistency between both versions," said the ministry.

The ministry demanded "the English version be updated to include an equivalent translation of this phrase, in order to maintain transparency and fidelity in communicating the message to both audiences".