The agreement was set to expire in a couple of years, but could be terminated early.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino this week to discuss several mutual issues and concerns. A key focus of President Trump’s administration is control of the Panama Canal, which the United States completed and which President Carter gave back to that nation in the late 70s. President Mulino stated that while Panama would maintain control of the canal they would not renew participation in the 2017 agreement with China’s Belt and Road infrastructure program.
Secretary Rubio stated, “Yesterday’s announcement by President Jose Raul Mulino that Panama will allow its participation in the CCP’s Belt and Road Initiative to expire is a great step forward for US-Panama relations, a free Panama Canal, and another example of [President Trump’s] leadership to protect our national security and deliver prosperity for the American people.”
Roughly 70 percent of the traffic using the Panama Canal is coming from or going to the United States.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Rubio as he continues to meet with Central American leaders.
- For President Trump and members of his administration as they implement and update foreign policies.
Sources: Straits Times, Fox News
