Knowing the severe ramifications likely and taking a proactive approach toward root-cause analysis, CTH attended the ASEAN summit to gauge how Asia was likely to respond to Trump term-2 and the looming possibility of a severe nationalist approach toward a renewal of USA manufacturing. The untangling of the Beijing Belt & Road initiative was a key topic of interest noted. [Watch Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Panama this weekend to express the position of President Donald Trump as it pertains to Chinese influence over the maritime transit gateway known as the Panama Canal. Following the meeting with President José Raúl Mulino, the government of Panama has announced they will no longer support China’s Belt & Road initiative.
Photographic message received; or the one-time Rubio needed to be shorter, you decide.
STATE DEPT – Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha today in Panama City to address critical regional and global challenges. Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.
Secretary Rubio also emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to end the hemisphere’s illegal migration crisis and thanked President Mulino for his support of a joint repatriation program, which has reduced illegal migration through the Darien Gap. The Secretary underscored the desire for an improved investment climate and ensuring a level playing field for fair competition by U.S. firms. The Secretary also praised President Mulino’s regional leadership in support of a democratic, free Venezuela.
Secretary Rubio expressed his gratitude for the productive discussion and underscored the United States’ dedication to making both nations safer, stronger, and more prosperous. He noted this meeting marks an important step in reinvigorating the strategic relationship between the United States and Panama, in line with President Trump’s vision. (link)
At the conclusion of the meeting, western media report:
WASHINGTON DC – The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, declared that the country will not renew the memorandum with China concerning the “Belt and Road Initiative.” This decision was made after discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to “Kommersant,” Mulino stressed that Rubio did not threaten to use force or a takeover of the Panama Canal.
During the talks, remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump were mentioned, in which he stated that China’s presence in the region violates the 1999 agreement on the transfer of the Panama Canal. Trump assured that addressing this issue does not necessitate U.S. military intervention.
The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” is a strategy for developing logistics and trade. 149 countries have joined the initiative. Panama signed a memorandum in 2017, which was renewed every three years. Panama’s decision marks the end of its cooperation with this project. (more)
Enjoy your day and please, do not forget to eat your winnamins.
FAFO ~ 47
But China will still control the ports at either end of the canal? How’s that a win? Will we still be paying excessive fees to use it?
The chic coms would be fighting US on our own side of the globe. They don’t want that. We’ll just take those ports that you speak of. We cannot allow them the military position, and Trump knows this.
Source?
It is a well known fact that China controls ports at both ends of the Canal. It is also a well known fact that US ships pay more. Heck you can probably even use google to find this information.
Free for US shipping is part of the settlement. Is what I read.
I read free for our military vessels
Chinese companies Landbridge Group and Hong Kong based CK Hutchison Holdings now operate the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/right-to-be-concerned-about-chinas-influence-over-the-panama-canal/
Seems to me only common sense. It’s his opinion and I’m shocked you have a counter one.
Read a little deeper.
Once Panama does not renew the contract, China will have to leave the canal.
We’ll tariff the hell out of the Chi Coms until they leave.
In fact, we should tariff the Chi Coms everywhere just because….they are Chi Coms
We should also tariff the dRAT and RINO Ameri Coms in our CONgress.
For now, Chinese companies in Panama will remain for now. However, the government of Panama is reviewing its relationship with these companies. Expect the Trump Administration to ensure that the outcome of this review serves American interests.
As for the fee issue, the reports I’ve read do not indicate that Rubio achieved any resolution.
Are you kidding me? After Rubio met with the President of Panama, Panama announced it is withdrawing from China’s Belt and Road initiative. And yet you ask how that’s a win. What are you expecting? 100% perfection? This is a HUGE win and something that never would have happened if Trump had not been elected. And remember, Trump has only been President for two weeks.
Panama joined BRI in 2018, so Trump has had a while to think about it.
Exactly! Just two weeks! What will it be like a month from now?
The Panama Canal is not in Israel.
IKR?
Not even close.
🗺️ 👩🏫🌎
😂😂
He’s trying to broker a deal in which Jordan and Egypt take the Palestinians from Gaza so it can be rebuilt into functional land again.
That’s a red herring, a false choice that has no chance of ever being accepted. NO one wants the Palestinians. And you know what? They don’t want to move, either. They want to stay where they are. But Israel wants Gaza too, so YOU figure out how to resolve it. I don’t have to. It’s not an American problem.
Agree!
Not our Circus 🎪 Not our 🤡
We have an illegal migration problem here
and know the strain it puts on our
resources…medical,employment,
schools, law enforcement…blah..blah..
And it is really pretty off the charts hypocritical
to tell other countries…take 1.5 million plus people
…..because we tell you to.😖😖🤨
Let’s concentrate on our problems here at home
instead of meddling in matters that don’t concern
us.
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 America First 🇺🇸🇺🇸
It still highlights that none of the Islamic states want them either. That’s forever an argument in favor of the Israelis. Personally, I’m for butting out, but someone got their feelings hurt about it.
Because at some point wars have to end thru capitulation or negotiated peace. Hard wars cannot continue in perpetuity. This is Israel’s war and not ours. It’s there neighborhood with a lot of players in the world stage especially oil. It’s always easy from afar saying fight, fight, fight while your families aren’t suffering the destruction of war. Seek peace and prepare for more war, it’s human existence and a harsh truth.
Because at some point wars have to end thru capitulation or negotiated peace.
Really? How long have they been fighting? How many Millennia?
We have to start somewhere..having any hostages returned is a win..tge longer they’re in custody the likelihood of their demise increases..it’s the incremental art of the deal.
Trump can back away from that if the terrorists do ONE thing wrong. He could then tell them, I tried to help you, but you don’t want peace. War, it shall be.
Fafo
☘️
Long time reader, I had to write my first comment because Sundance had my laughing hard at the “shorter” comment of rubio. Took me a minute to see it.
Hahahaha!!!
President Trump just sent the message :
” You’re F☆☆cked”
Not so subtlety!!!
Your comment caused me to take another look. Bwhahahaha! Very funny stuff.
who’s the comedian who says “Panamac Anal”?
Greg Gutfeld …
Hee hee!
Wondered if anyone else saw it!
Imho
We need to focus on America
America first
America now
MAGA
Go Trump
☘️☘️☘️
This.
Glorious!
Thank you for this excellent news, Sundance!
You keep saying this…like it is a bad thing.
MAGA tip: it ain’t.
It ain’t our circus, it ain’t our clowns.
Agree
We can’t be distracted from our goals
Gotta keep the MAGA movement
movin forward
☘️
Not our circus, not our clowns, so why are we paying so much for all of them?
Place me firmly in the column that does not consider Israel an ally – quite the contrary.
Remember The U.S.S. Liberty!
Sundance, Re ASEAN/China/EU/Belt & Road – watch the international accounting firms and their proxies. Lenin liked progressive taxation for far more reasons than just delivering the Oscars count.
Off topic
Time will tell…meanwhile, a memory…or two…second one relates to coffee…
at 01:36…it almost looks like the inbound Ike in Chicago…
I’m Jewish and I understand the frustration. But Israel has always traded a few people for dozen of animals. And Bibi is under pressure from a population that is to a great extent is left wing. And “You don’t make peace with your friends”
You all remember this project where the Chineese
where planning another canal through Nicaragua?:
Eyes Right…
And
Now one can see where Greenland comes into play.
Would love to have been a fly on the wall when
‘ Big Marco ‘ talked with
Lil Raul Moolinyano
Maybe , just maybe he through in a fafo
☘️
They are playing ‘good guy’ (Marco) to ‘bad guy’ PDJT,..and its working beautifully.
Good to see you Dutchman
Hope all is well with you
Peddle your off-topic distractions somewhere else please.
Thank you
And you see just how such distractions work. They emotionally trigger a % of treepers, who then respond, and totally distract from an article highlighting how Our President Trump is winning; its not just Panama, Mexican President agreed to put 10,000 troops on the border.
As for Canada, 60% of manufacturing businesses are now looking to relocate into the U.S.
So, Justin the fool will either soon cave, or will be the “living example” of what happens to countries that don’t.
PDJT is focusing on cleaning house in OUR hemisphere, he will get to the ME in due time, and I suspect in the long run the lovers of Israel will be happy.
How much aid do Jordan Exypt, etc recieve? How much do they tarriff our goods, as opposed to us tariffing theirs?
Jordan in particular always TALKS in support of “the poor palestinians, but as noted does not want them; too f’ing bad.
Little Marco! First thing I thought of when seeing that photo of him shaking hands.
He just upped it to
Big Marco for me
it’ll always be
☘️
That Pic of Lil Marco shaking hands reminds me of that Pink Floyd Album Cover for Wish you were here…
Ah, Diplomacy! ( Look a little harder at the photo )
HA! Took a second look. Bad photography…no?
I think the one of the reasons that. Rubio was chosen to be S of S is his fluent Spanish. It would not surprise me to find that he has had closed door discussions (with no interpreters) and spoke frankly.
Reminiscent of Tom Hogan representing Don Coreleone in the “Godfather” movies.
<Reminiscent of Tom Hogan representing Don Coreleone in the “Godfather” movies.>
Exactly…’Mr.
CorleoneTrump is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately’ 🙂I agree the deal is a catastrophe from Israel’s point of view. The only positive aspect is getting their hostages back. Apart from that, the deal basically means Israel loses and Hamas/Qatar/the Muslim Brotherhood/Iran wins. And that is also not good optics for the USA. The deal is the same deal that Biden tried to shove down Israel’s throat but Israel refused for so long. My view is, if Trump doesn’t have something else up his sleeve, something yet to be revealed that will reshuffle the deck so to speak, then this deal is set to cost America a lot of money and put Israel back to where it was before 7 Oct 23, but in an even worse state for both Israel and America.
Some background here:
Witkoff Now Talking About 10-15 Year Rebuilding of Gaza
https://www.frontpagemag.com/witkoff-now-talking-about-10-15-year-rebuilding-of-gaza/
Rubio is the right guy for this type of up-front public addressing of a problem with a reputable leader. No one can argue with it much. And Grenell is the right guy to send in the back door to deliver whispered messages (threats?) to sketchy guys who can’t be trusted.
PDJT just announced USAID will be merged into State Dept…
Rubio to be acting Head of USAID.
Winning.
Quite the WIN-WIN Trump Tactic:
• Rubio dismantles USAID, reveals ALL as Deep-State SLAYER
-> Trump gives him NED to Rinse n Repeat as a Chessboard Bishop
or
• Rubio runs cover for USAID, signaling Deep-State FRIEND
-> Trump relegates him to Pawn Role to fade into oblivion
Hi BlackKnightRides,
Good to see your economic bullets points again. 🙂 I used to enjoy reading the long bullet point lists (showing cause/effect, sequence of events, &/or potential options for courses of action) you posted during President Trump’s first term.
TY!
🙂
Saw that this morning and got to wondering. . .
Anyone heard from Samantha Powel lately?
Oh my goodness. You have to have an extra cup of coffee for these comments…… tee heee
It’s also an added negotiating bonus that Rubio is Hispanic, and dealing with Latin American countries like Mexico, Venezuela, and Panama — just as Steve Witkoff is Jewish, and dealing with Israel. It’s an interesting way for President Trump to put pressure on a situation, to send envoys of similar ethnicities to those areas, so no one can accuse him of being a racist or culturally insensitive.
Haha, sorry but my 12 yo boy humor caught your Grenell back door delivery joke, good one!
Thanks , I thought I was the only one with the 12 yr old sense of humor !!!!
Meanwhile, PDJT plays “the bad cop” threatening to use military force (he DID, imply that initially) setting it up perfectly for little marco (the good cop,) to effectively say “You really want to make a deal with me, cause you DON’T want to deal with my boss!”
Its brilliant strategy, and imposing the tariffs plays perfectly into reinforcing PDJT’S image as “the bad cop” you don’t want to deal with.
The Art of the Deal, played out on the World Stage, and Our great President is having the time of his life.
Rubio is the Maître d’ not the chef (per SD’s restaurant analogy)
Most people identifying as “Palestinian” are actually Jordanian and Egyptian.. deporting them to their tribal home countries takes a different kind of strategy, especially since they have been intrenched in Israel for the past 65-75 years.. it’s not easy deporting Islamic terrorist and it’s doesn’t happen over night.. So hold your horses it’s a work in progress.. Found it is helpful if you ignore the Trump New York attitude it’s intent is to keep you confused and annoyed.. it’s what New Yorkers do, does not support the ego trip you think it does his arrogant projection is the distraction.. Stay Focused and on topic..
Only 18 minutes…….Great Documentary
Britain in Palestine 1917-1948 – YouTube
👆 👆 👆 Balfour Project
Recommend research beginning with ……
Balfour Declaration
Sykes-Picot
Nakba
Books by Ilan Pappe and Edward Said are also
good starting points for research.
👩🏫 👩🏫 👩🏫
Trump got the hostages released which was his main goal. Some of those hostages are Americans. He doesn’t leave American hostages behind. Look at Venezuela! He told Israel they can do whatever they want after the hostages are released. A reporter asked him about what would happen after the hostages are released and he said “It’s not my war!
Thanks Sundance,
A lot of people find your verbalizing your time and efforts comforting, even those that don’t fully understand the big picture.. Thanks to your loved ones too for allowing you to chase the rabbits thru the warrens..
Psalm 98:1
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.”
“He forced it on Israel before his inauguration”
Just exactly how did President Trump force Israel to do anything before he was even president. Israel agreed to a deal that FJB and Blinken had been working on for months. President Trump said he wanted hostages released before January 20, 2025. ALL of the hostages have not been released.
This is off topic from the Panama Canal so I can almost guarantee Sundance will not respond to your post.
Trump’s Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff did help with negotiations before the inauguration. He convinced Israel to accept the deal because of 2 conditions. 1)Gaza will not be ruled by Hamas 2)Israel can do whatever they want after all hostages are released.
relax.
you can celebrate Shushan Purim in Shushan this year.
Trump and Netanyahu have been trying to bring as many hostages out before they bomb Iran
With a little luck, you will have regime change in Iran as quickly as Assad was evicted.
what happens after is a diff story…there are no ‘completely good’ outcomes in the mid-east–mostly just buying time till the next enemy and crisis.
my moneys on Turkey becoming the next enemy to replace Iran. The deep state here want regional balance–someone to counter Israel and the Gulf States. Iran had a nice run. Turkeys turn next.
Man, talk about only speaking for one group of people.
Sure you are not a leftist media?😂
I worry about those Chinese built bridges over the Canal. What happens if China decides to work on those bridges. Can they shut down the Canal??
A good start in Panama. But: the CCP observed the Suez Canal blockage last year, and the effects of the Francis Scott Key Bridge destruction on US trade. There are three bridges over the Panama Canal and the Chinese are building a fourth one; and Chinese entities manage the ports at both ends of the Canal. The CCP has the capability to block or severely damage the Panama Canal. We cannot become complacent about it!
I would say that we are being far from complacent about it – evidenced by President Trump’s anger at the Treaty violation and assertion that the CCP runs the Canal. Would you not agree that this shows work is being done to undo this?
That’s like burning your house down to keep thieves out .
They need to use the canal too .
Maybe it will benefit the ports on the west coast short or long term .
One of the reasons the canal is so important is because it has become cheaper to go all the way around to the east coast by ship . Rather than unload in , say , Long Beach and send it by rail/ truck to the east coast .
Also the tariffs on China are going to severely curtail shipments less than 800$ .
It’s a massive web that our Very Stable Genius President Donald J. Trump has seemed to figure out .
Winning on a massive scale no matter what angle you look at it .
God Bless America !!!
What does this have to do with the topic at hand?
Stopping the WAR is the best for the world and Gods country. He is in charge of all things and has a plan that we sometimes cannot see or understand. Amir Tsfarti may give you sunlight into this. At some point they will loose 3/4 of their population then they will cry out for Jesus return knowing he is the Messiah they missed almost 2000 years ago. He returns not as a saviour but as a raging lion to destroy the EVIL nations of this world. AmirTsfarti.com. Or put his name in you tubes search and he will come up. He still has Intellegence as he was a General thru the 6 day war. The one they had alll the ARABS surrounding them yet they still won.
Stopping the roads and bridges avoids a terrible war that could have great cost.
Listen to Caroline Glick’s discussion on her podcast of the situation in Gaza; I think she comes the conclusion that the cease-fire and hostage recovery is positive for now. She’s also in favor of President Trump’s proposal to move the Islamist Arabs out of Gaza. See here:
Why are you here?
Here you go again… posting the same diatribe that failed to hit your goal the last couple of times.
It’s not working so you might consider changing sites.
Have a nice day! 🙂
Your concerns are legitimate. I would add that there is also a supernatural element to the preservation of the nation of Israel. If we don’t help Israel, it will work to our disadvantage as a nation. Over and over, Israel has shown that it is a light to the nations. Oh, I know they have their leftist idiots like we do. Consider also the Jewish condition during Germany’s evil time. That will be repeated if Israel doesn’t claim their rightful place among the nations of the earth. They made a terrible mistake giving up their Divine right to portions of their land. I think the Israeli rightist leadership sees that mistake very well. Many Muslims seem to understand overwhelming force very well, although the only thing that may stop Hamas is total annihilation. Read the Old Testament to see how Israel was to deal with their enemies millennia ago. May I remind you, as a people, they are still under the Old Covenant to an extent, and the promises made to their ancestors will find fullfillment in the future.
We are talking about the Panama Canal, which is in Panama 😉
The sheer amount of success achieved in roughly 2% of his term, President Trump is FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMING the WORLD. The sheer amount of sunlight being focused on the evil and corrupt ways and players of the US govt will do wonders in not only righting the ship, but preventing it from slinking back to the bottom in 4 years.
Great news!
To see our President concentrating on
our Country 🇺🇸🇺🇸 and Hemisphere 🗺️🌎
is a welcome change!
I have yet to personally talk to anyone who
does not support President Trump ……..
staying in our Hemisphere!
👏 👏 👏
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 America First 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Look at what the Chi Coms have done to countries who try to back out of the One Belt Road scam. They take over. Panama is going to have a very difficult time pulling away from any signed contracts with China. Doesn’t mean they can’t, it’s just going to hurt like all get out. They did it to themselves.
China knows that this battle is with PDJT and MAGA.
SSCI: HOLY CRAP, Marco!
64D chess friend or foe?
ME: #FAFO😹…it kinda sorta doesn’t matter which one it is at this point, bottom line is attacking him won’t end up helping them regardless of WHERE his true allegiance lies, because, AS THEY SAY, “…a Republican IN YOUR OWN PARTY…”
Backatcha, bishes🤪🤡
This is dee-LISH!
BTW…Tulsi’s Senate sherpa, Burr…are he and Warner still BFFs (😬)?
😭😹🤪
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/state-usaid-administration/2025/02/03/id/1197601/
Is Rubio now acting director of the USAID?
Yes, he is.
And as we were all typing, not to be left out, here comes Mexico! 10,000 Mexican troups going to its northern border to avoid the tariffs. Prices didn’t even have time to go up. How it’s done. Marco can cancel his flight to Mexico City.
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2025/02/03/mexico-sending-troops-to-secure-border-avoiding-trump-tariffs/
Do not forget the corruption that is Mexico. Who are “the Top Brass” of those troups?
I still think the canal should be returned to the USA.
The Chi-coms will bury a Nuke at either end of the canal, and just wait until they have to use them. They never should have been allowed anywhere near the canal.
Trump is writing this book much faster than we can read it.
WINNING!
The winnamins are tasting better. EVERY DAY.
NOT.
TIRED.
OF.
WINNING.
EVER.
El presidente to MAGA President Donald J Trump: Si, Senor, ahora!
Thank you Sundance….I have great interest in the Belt & Road Initiative and appreciate your knowledge on the subject. You and your team are greatly appreciated.