A bipartisan group of US senators has expressed concern about China's growing influence on the Panama Canal, which is an important artery for international trade. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
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The Panama Canal is a key element in the United States' trade, with more than 40% of US container shipments passing through it each year. This makes the region important to the global economy. At the same time, there are concerns about China's possible attempts to use its influence to monitor and even restrict access to the canal, which could disrupt the stability of trade routes.
The US authorities are considering various ways to control the situation, including the possibility of imposing fines on Panamanian-flagged vessels calling at US ports. The senators are calling for increased cooperation between the United States and Panama to strengthen the canal's infrastructure and ensure its smooth operation.
Despite these calls, the situation remains complicated, as President Donald Trump's recent statements about his intention to “return” the canal have caused criticism and misunderstanding among Latin American countries, as this issue affects Panama's sovereignty as an ally.