Panama Ends Belt and Road Partnership with China Amid U.S. Pressure

The Panama Canal Authority denies U.S. claims of fee waivers for government ships as tensions rise over control of the vital waterway.

Panama has announced it will not renew its Belt and Road Initiative agreement with China, which was first signed in 2017.
The Panama Canal Authority has refuted U.S. State Department claims that U.S. government ships would no longer pay transit fees.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Panama, pressuring the government over canal operations and China's influence in the region.
President Donald Trump has criticized Panama's handling of the canal, threatening to bring it back under U.S. control and alleging unfair treatment of U.S. vessels.
Panama maintains that the sovereignty of the canal is non-negotiable, despite U.S. demands and escalating rhetoric.