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Guyana joins hemispheric bloc to defend Panama, warns against China’s maritime pressure
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana has joined a coalition of regional and international partners including Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States in defending Panama’s sovereignty and warning against what they describe as growing external pressure on the hemisphere’s maritime system.
In a joint statement issued on the US Department of State website, the countries reaffirmed that “the freedom of our region is non-negotiable,” signaling a coordinated response to concerns over China’s targeted economic actions and their impact on Panama-flagged vessels.
The container terminal at Balboa (CK Hutchison file image)
The coalition said it is “monitoring with vigilance” recent developments following a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court regarding the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals—two critical ports at either end of the Panama Canal—arguing that subsequent actions represent “a blatant attempt to politicise maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere.”
Highlighting Panama’s strategic role in global commerce, the statement described the country as “a pillar of our maritime trading system,” warning that any effort to undermine its sovereignty poses a broader threat to hemispheric stability.
“Any attempts to undermine Panama’s sovereignty are a threat to us all,” the statement declared, as the countries collectively voiced solidarity with Panama.
The Balboa and Cristóbal ports sit at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most critical shipping arteries, through which roughly five to six per cent of global trade passes annually. Control, management, and legal oversight of these terminals have long carried geopolitical weight, particularly as global powers compete for influence over strategic infrastructure.
In recent years, China has significantly expanded its economic footprint across Latin America and the Caribbean through investments tied to its Belt and Road Initiative. This has included port development, logistics networks, and financing arrangements in several countries, raising concerns in Washington and among some regional governments about economic dependency and strategic leverage.
The latest tensions stem from a decision by Panama’s independent Supreme Court related to the operation and legal status of the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals. While the ruling itself is a domestic legal matter, the coalition’s statement suggests that actions taken in its aftermath particularly those affecting Panama-registered vessels are being interpreted as external pressure with broader geopolitical implications.
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of commitment to peace, cooperation, and vigilance, as the signatories pledged to work together to ensure the Americas remain “a region of freedom, security, and prosperity.
On Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry called the statement “entirely baseless and misleading”, accused the United States of politicising ports, and said it would take steps to safeguard China’s interests in Panama.
“China also urges the relevant countries not to be deceived or exploited by malevolent forces,” added Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson.
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