Panamanian President Raul Mulino said on Sunday that Panama will not renew the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement with China. Panama signed this agreement with China in 2017. Now it is likely to end before time. Mulino has expressed his desire to work with the US on new investments. These also include infrastructure projects. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Panama on Sunday. This is the first visit of an American diplomat to Panama after Trump became president. Speaking to the media, Mulino described Rubio’s visit as opening new doors in relations. However, he also reiterated his point of not debating the sovereignty of the Panama Canal. He said that he has talked to Rubio about US concerns related to China on the canal. America warned to take necessary steps After Mulino’s statement, the US State Department shared the details of the conversation between the two countries. In this, Rubio’s warning to Panama on the issue of China was mentioned. The report said that China’s control over the Panama Canal would mean that the US would take necessary steps to protect its rights. The US handed over the control of Panama to Panama in a treaty in 1977. According to the agreement, if the operation of the canal is disrupted due to any foreign power, the US can intervene militarily. However, Mulino denied on Sunday that the US would take military action to recapture the canal. Trump threatened to take back the Panama Canal US President Donald Trump had threatened to take back the Panama Canal under US control last month even before taking oath. This canal is part of the Caribbean country Panama. The US had control over this canal till 1999. Trump had alleged that “Panama is charging more fees from the US for using this canal. Apart from this, China is increasing its influence on the canal.” After the rally, Trump also posted an AI generated picture on his social media account. In this picture, the US flag was placed in the middle of the Panama Canal. In the caption of the photo, Trump wrote ‘Welcome to the United States Canal’. It means welcome to the canal of the United States. The plan to connect 70 countries through BRI is China’s Belt and Road Initiative i.e. BRI, which is also called the New Silk Route. This is a connectivity project of many countries. Under BRI, there is a plan to connect 70 countries of Asia, Europe, Africa by rail, road and sea route. China wants to build ports, naval bases and surveillance posts in the Indian Ocean or the countries close to India. Through BRI, China is giving huge loans to many countries. If the loan is not repaid, it takes over their ports. This is the biggest project ever started by any country. —————————– Read this news too… Today’s Explainer: Why does Trump want to capture Greenland, Panama and Canada, to what extent will he go for this; Everything that is important to know On 29 November 2024, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau met US President-Elect Donald Trump. At the dinner table, Trump said that Canada should become the ’51st state’ of America. In the post related to this meeting, Trump also called the Canadian PM ‘Governor Trudeau’. This expansionist attitude of Trump was discussed a lot. Read the full news here….
