WASHINGTON -Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, have joined four other countries, including the United States in monitoring “with vigilance China’s targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels”.
The US State Department in a statement said that the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have joined Washington, Bolivia, Costa Rica, and Paraguay in “standing together in our shared mission to secure our hemisphere, reaffirm that the freedom of our region is non-negotiable.
“We are monitoring with vigilance China’s targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels. These actions — following the decision of Panama’s independent Supreme Court regarding the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals — are a blatant attempt to politicise maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere,” the statement said.
According to the governments, “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system, and as such must remain free from any undue external pressure”.
They said “any attempts to undermine Panama’s sovereignty are a threat to us all.
“We stand in solidarity with Panama. Through our renewed commitment to peace, security, and Hemispheric cooperation, we remain dedicated to facing all threats to ensure the Americas remain a region of freedom, security, and prosperity,” the statement added.
While the statement gave no specific incident to have prompted the concerns of the governments, the United State earlier this month expressed significant concern over China’s presence in Panama, focusing on China’s role in port operations and alleged retaliation against Panama-flagged vessels following legal disputes over infrastructure control
This tension centers on the strategic Panama Canal, which handles about five per cent of global maritime trade. (CMC)
