From 1535 it was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, from 1717 it was part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, and after liberation from the rule of New Granada in 1819 it became part of Greater Colombia as its province. Since 1830, Panama has belonged to Colombia.
At the inspiration of the US, Panama broke away from Colombia in 1903 and formed a separate republic. The US obtained a perpetual lease of the Panama Canal Zone and the right to station US troops in the country. During World War II, US military bases were established in Panama.
