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Home Front: Politix

Panama Caves to Trump

2025-02-03

[PJMedia] Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Sunday, making it clear that the U.S. won’t tolerate China’s growing influence over the Panama Canal.

"Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal," the State Department said in a statement. "Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty."

The news had barely settled before another bombshell dropped: Panama has backed down.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced that after his meeting Rubio, his government will not renew its 2017 memorandum with China on the "Belt and Road Initiative." He also stated that Panama will seek to terminate its agreements with the Chinese government ahead of their scheduled end dates in 2027 and 2028.

"One important thing, which is a decision I made and communicated to you, is that the 2017 MoU on the Silk Road, the Bell and Road Initiative, will not be renewed by my government. That is the case," Mulino said according to a translation of his remarks. "We are going to study the possibility of whether it can be finished earlier or not, but I think it is due for renewal in one or two years, because it is every three years. So that initiative that was signed when it was signed, at the time it was signed, will not be renewed by my government. I think "that this visit opens a path to build a new stage of relations."

He continued, "That's how I see it, that's how I felt from Secretary Marco Rubio, and at the same time, we're trying as much as possible to increase U.S. investments in Panama. I explained to him a series of infrastructure projects that the government has in its portfolio, in the hope that they'll be aware of them and that when the time comes, the bidding process that will begin very soon will be done, so that they can get involved."

They’re not just refusing to renew their 2017 deal with China; they’re scrambling to cut ties ahead of schedule. China’s influence over the canal is coming to an end.

Posted by:DarthVader

#7 A memorandum of understanding isn't legally binding, so nothing has happened (yet).

Posted by: European Conservative 2025-02-03 11:04

#6 https://amac.us/newsline/national-security/china-behind-super-highway-that-targets-us-with-mass-migration-economic-warfare/

Posted by: jefe101 2025-02-03 10:40

#5 can't find anything about any Panamanian infrastructure being funded by the Road and Belt Initiative

maybe there are some service roads within the port areas but that's a guess

Posted by: Lord Garth 2025-02-03 10:32

#4 Someone has read The Prince -

And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

So much for decades of trying to buy 'love'.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2025-02-03 07:26

#3 What's better: to be a client of China, or a client of USA.

Posted by: Grom the Affective 2025-02-03 04:14

#2 Yet another 'Banana Republic' seeing the writing on the wall and kissing the ring!

Posted by: Angimp Squank3949 2025-02-03 03:44

#1 Panama pledges to end key canal deal with China, work with US after Rubio visit

Posted by: Skidmark 2025-02-03 01:27

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