Panama Says It Will Not Renew ‘Belt and Road’ Agreement With China After Rubio Visit

The announcement followed President Jose Mulino’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Panama City on Sunday.
Panama Says It Will Not Renew ‘Belt and Road’ Agreement With China After Rubio Visit
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino speaks during a press conference after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (not in frame) at the presidential palace in Panama City on Feb. 2, 2025. Arnulfo Franco/AFP
Aldgra Fredly
Updated:
0:00

Panama’s President Jose Mulino said on Sunday that his country will not renew its memorandum of understanding with China to be a part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Belt and Road initiative.

Speaking to reporters, Mulino said that his government is looking into whether the memorandum can be terminated earlier.

The remarks came after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Panama City on Sunday, during which Rubio called on Panama to urgently address the CCP’s influence over the region.

This is a developing story and will be updated.