On 7 September 1977, in Washington, Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos sign the Torrijos–Carter Treaties — the pair of Panama Canal treaties (the Canal Treaty and the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality of the Canal).

The Canal Treaty abrogates the 1903 Isthmian Canal Convention and later accords, restores to Panama sovereignty over the Canal Zone (from 1 October 1979) and provides for full handover of operations by 31 December 1999.

The Neutrality Treaty guarantees the canal a permanent neutral status and the US right to defend it against any threat to neutrality. US Senate ratification (1978) and exchange of instruments (1 April 1979) enabled entry into force on 1 October 1979.

The documents are authentic in English and Spanish; the Canal Treaty text is registered in the UNTS.

For Panama, 7 September 1977 marks the Washington signature.

The official text is published by the US State Department and the Panama Canal Authority.

The Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 7 September 1977 remain the Panama Canal transfer milestone.

Image: Panama Canal; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Torrijos–Carter Treaties. Treaty text: UNTS — Panama Canal Treaty (1977).