China Regrets Panama's Exit from Belt and Road Initiative Amid U.S. Pressure

China’s UN envoy has responded to Panama’s decision to let its participation in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) expire, calling it a “regrettable decision.” The ambassador defended the BRI as a purely economic initiative, rejecting claims that it serves a political agenda.

China’s Response to Criticism

The Chinese envoy accused the United States and other Western countries of conducting a “totally groundless smear campaign” against the infrastructure project. He stated:

“The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic initiative, not a political one. Its goal is to build a platform for countries, especially in the Global South, to engage in mutually beneficial economic cooperation. The accusations from the U.S. and Western countries are baseless.”

Trump’s Claims on China and the Panama Canal

The Chinese envoy’s remarks came in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused China of controlling the Panama Canal. Trump, speaking amid U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Panama, alleged that:

“The canal was given to Panama, not China. What China has done is terrible. They have violated the agreement, and they are not allowed to do that. We’re going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen.”

His remarks have raised concerns about a potential escalation in U.S.-China tensions over Latin America and the future of Panama’s strategic position in global trade.

U.S. Diplomacy in Panama and Immigration Focus

After his visit to Panama, Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to El Salvador, downplaying Trump’s aggressive rhetoric. He described his Panama visit as “worthwhile and respectful” and voiced optimism that Panama would address U.S. concerns over Chinese influence in the region.

On his second and final day in Panama City, Rubio shifted focus to immigration, observing the departure of a flight carrying migrants from Panama to Colombia. He praised the U.S.-Panama cooperation in deporting migrants back to their home countries, highlighting the Biden administration’s focus on border security and immigration control.

Geopolitical Implications

• China’s BRI faces resistance in Latin America, with some nations reconsidering their involvement under U.S. pressure.
• U.S.-China tensions over the Panama Canal could escalate, impacting trade and diplomatic relations.
• Panama’s strategic role in global trade remains a key battleground in the power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

As the situation unfolds, both China and the U.S. continue to assert their influence in the region, making Panama a focal point of global geopolitics.