Facing heat from US, Panama pulls out of China’s Belt and Road initiative

Panama has formally ended its participation in China’s Belt and Road initiative, signaling efforts to improve relations with the Trump administration. The decision came alongside denials from Panama about a US State Department claim that US warships would transit the Panama Canal for free, despite the US announcing such a policy.

​Panama has formally ended its participation in China’s Belt and Road initiative, signaling efforts to improve relations with the Trump administration. The decision came alongside denials from Panama about a US State Department claim that US warships would transit the Panama Canal for free, despite the US announcing such a policy.