PANAMA RÚT LUI KHỎI DỰ ÁN 1 VÀNH ĐAI CỦA TRUNG CỘNG KÝ KẾT VÀO 2017- SAU KHI CÓ ĐE ĐỌA TỪ TRUMP./-Mt68

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Panama Withdraws from China After Trump's Threats

Panama will withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), 

President Jose Raul Mulino announced following talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"I have made an important decision and I am informing you of it," Mulino said, as cited by The Moscow Times. "My government will not renew the 2017 memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative. That is true. We will study the possibility of ending the project early.">Recently, the U.S. has increased pressure on Panama over China’s growing influence in the strategic waterway. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed concern over China’s role in the Panama Canal, warning that its involvement violates the 1999 treaty that transferred control of the canal from the U.S. to Panama.

Trump Pressures Panama Over Canal Control

According to Mulino, Rubio did not make a direct threat to reclaim the Panama Canal or use force but relayed that Trump views China’s presence in the canal area as a treaty violation.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement warning that if Panama does not take immediate action to reduce China’s involvement, Washington would be forced to "protect its rights."