Rómulo Escobar Bethancourt

Rómulo Escobar Bethancourt (September 5, 1927 – September 28, 1995) was a Panamanian politician and diplomat. He was known for his role in negotiating the Panama Canal treaties in 1977.

Biography Escobar was trained as a criminal lawyer, and was a member of the communist party in Panama. Due to his political views he was initially jailed by the right-wing government of Omar Torrijos when it took power after a coup in 1968. However, he later became an advisor to Torrijos's government.

Escobar was appointed Panama's chief negotiator when the United States and Panama negotiated the 1977 Panama Canal treaties. In this position, he helped Panama regain partial control over the Panama Canal, which had been in United States control since 1903. He was described as a capable diplomat. Arguing against the United States' position, Escobar stated "We don't accept that the United States can dictate when we can or cannot be in our country, be it Noriega or any other Panamanian." about the government of Torrijos. He died in 1995 in a hospital in Panama City. A local news service reported throat cancer as the cause of death.