It is a national security risk that Chinese companies own or operate terminals in 100 ports in 60 countries. Four are located in the United States: Seattle, Long Beach, Houston, and Miami.
First Venezuela, now Panama. The US seems to have magic negotiation skills all of a sudden.
Panama agrees to facilitate & offer free-passage to US Navy ships through Panama Canal following visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and agrees to end China’s Panama Canal deal and to leave from china’s 2017 “Belt and Road initiative”.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), is a vast, Chinese-led infrastructure and economic development strategy launched in 2013. Inspired by the historical Silk Road, the BRI seeks to enhance global connectivity and cooperation.
It comprises two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt for land routes connecting China with Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, and the Maritime Silk Road for sea routes linking China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The initiative’s goals include fostering infrastructure development, boosting trade and investment, and promoting cultural and policy exchanges. Now encompassing over 150 countries, the BRI is funded through diverse mechanisms, including loans from Chinese banks and direct investments. However, it has not been without controversy, facing criticism over environmental impacts, debt sustainability, and geopolitical implications. Despite these challenges, the BRI offers potential benefits like economic growth and development for participating nations, while also serving China’s interests in exporting industrial capacity and securing geopolitical influence.