Panama has taken control of the port facilities previously run by a Chinese company after the courts ruled the original contracts were secured through bribes. This move reaffirms U.S.–Panama relations, as a U.S. ally is now operating the ports.
While the ports weren’t a direct military threat, they are strategically significant. So, removing China from the equation makes Chinese activity in the region that much more difficult, especially as the U.S. Navy begins to step away from its role as global protector of the sea lanes.
This move is a great example of using legal pressure to reshape outcomes and affirm U.S. soft power. While I’m not sure this administration can replicate this success elsewhere, let’s see how well the U.S. can sustain and expand power across Latin America.
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