Thread: BlackRock secures control of Panama Canal ports, curtailing Chinese influence

BlackRock secures control of Panama Canal ports, curtailing Chinese influence

03/05/2025 // Cassie B. // 690 Views

Tags: BlackRock, China, economy, freedom, global infrastructure, national security, Panama Canal, progress, trade wars

• BlackRock acquires majority stakes in two Panama Canal ports in a $23 billion deal, reducing Chinese-linked influence over the critical trade route.
• The deal transfers control from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to a U.S.-led consortium, aligning with Trump’s efforts to counter China’s global infrastructure influence.
• BlackRock gains control of Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal ports, plus 43 other ports globally, through its subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners.
• U.S. officials celebrate the move as a strategic win, citing concerns over China’s potential to exploit port control for military or economic leverage.
• The acquisition marks a geopolitical shift, reinforcing U.S. dominance over the Panama Canal and safeguarding global trade routes.

In a landmark $23 billion deal, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has acquired majority stakes in two strategic ports at the Panama Canal, effectively pushing out Chinese-linked influence over one of the world’s most vital trade routes.
The transaction, which was announced on Tuesday, transfers control of the ports from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to a U.S.-led consortium spearheaded by BlackRock. This move aligns with President Trump’s longstanding warnings about China’s growing influence over global infrastructure and marks a significant shift in geopolitical control over the canal, which handles more than 70% of U.S.-bound shipping.
The deal grants BlackRock control of Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal ports, which are located at the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the canal, respectively, as well as 43 other ports across 23 countries. The acquisition, executed through BlackRock’s subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in partnership with Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), underscores the firm’s growing role in global infrastructure investments.
A strategic win for U.S. interests

The Panama Canal has long been a linchpin of global trade, with its operations critical to U.S. economic and military strategy. For years, U.S. officials have raised alarms about China’s expanding presence in the region, warning that Beijing could exploit its control over ports for intelligence gathering, military positioning, or even disrupting shipping to harm the U.S. economy.
“China is getting kicked out of Panama, and America is winning. Thank you, President Trump. MAGA!” wrote the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority in a post on X, celebrating the deal.
Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized the canal’s importance to U.S. national security, hailed the acquisition as a step toward “reclaiming” the waterway. “The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands!”
A purely commercial deal?

Although CK Hutchison co-managing director Frank Sixt insisted the transaction was “purely commercial in nature,” the geopolitical implications are undeniable. The deal removes Chinese-linked entities from controlling critical infrastructure near the canal, a move that aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to counter Beijing’s influence in the Western Hemisphere.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink emphasized the deal’s economic significance, stating, “These world-class ports facilitate global growth. Through our deep connectivity to organizations like Hutchison and MSC/TIL and governments around the world, we are increasingly the first call for partners seeking patient, long-term capital.”
A turning point in geopolitics

The acquisition represents a significant shift in the balance of power over global trade routes. By placing control of the Panama Canal ports in American hands, the deal mitigates the risks associated with Chinese influence, such as potential surveillance, military pre-positioning, or economic leverage in geopolitical disputes.
As the Trump administration continues to push for greater U.S. control over the canal, this deal marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for dominance over critical global infrastructure. With BlackRock at the helm, the U.S. has taken a decisive step toward safeguarding one of the world’s most strategic trade corridors.
Sources for this article include:
YourNews.com
FoxBusiness.com
CNBC.com
NYPost.com

BlackRock secures control of Panama Canal ports, curtailing Chinese influence – NaturalNews.com

U.S. and Panama strengthen security ties, counter China’s influence in key canal region

04/09/2025 // Cassie B. // 40 Views

Tags: Belt and Road initiative, big government, China, foreign relations, Fort Sherman, money supply, national security, Panama, Panama Canal, progress, Trump

• The U.S. and Panama strengthen security ties to counter China, including reopening a former military base and joint defense exercises.
• Panama exits China’s Belt and Road Initiative, marking a diplomatic win for the U.S.
• The U.S. reinforces control over the Panama Canal, ensuring neutrality against China’s influence.
• Fort Sherman reopens, boosting U.S. jungle warfare training and regional military readiness.
• New agreements secure trade routes, compensate Panama for waived tolls, and provide $230M in security aid.

In a decisive move to counter China’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced a sweeping expansion of bilateral security cooperation during a high-level meeting Monday. The agreement, which includes the reopening of a former U.S. military base and joint defense exercises, signals a strategic recalibration as Panama becomes the first nation in the Americas to exit China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
At the heart of the partnership is the Panama Canal, a vital artery for global trade that sees over 40% of U.S. container traffic—worth roughly $270 billion annually. While China operates key ports at either end of the canal, Hegseth made clear the U.S. will not tolerate any threats to the waterway’s neutrality. “China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal,” he declared.
A strategic pivot from China

Panama’s decision to withdraw from the BRI marks a significant diplomatic victory for the Trump administration, which has warned against Beijing’s economic and military encroachment in Latin America. “We strongly welcome President Mulino’s commitment to make Panama the first country in our hemisphere to exit the Belt and Road Initiative,” Hegseth said, framing the move as a return to sovereignty.
The Chinese embassy in Panama fired back, accusing the U.S. of “blackmail” and “sensationalism,” but Panamanian officials emphasized their alignment with Washington. A joint statement highlighted Panama’s crackdown on illegal migration through the Darién Gap—a notorious smuggling corridor—and the resumption of large-scale military exercises like PANAMAX 2026, which will bolster regional readiness.
Fort Sherman and jungle warfare training

One of the most symbolic developments is the partial reopening of Fort Sherman, a former U.S. jungle warfare training site abandoned in 1999. The “Jungle School” once trained 9,000 troops annually, and its revival underscores the Pentagon’s focus on tactical superiority. “I should never put you in a fair fight,” Hegseth told U.S. troops stationed in Panama. “My job is to put you in a fight where you are overwhelming.”
The facility’s return aligns with the Trump administration’s push to reassert influence over the canal zone, which was ceded to Panama under President Jimmy Carter. Though full ownership remains off the table, the U.S. will expand military coordination, including expedited naval transit and cyber defense partnerships with the Panama Canal Authority.
Security and trade guarantees

The new agreements include a “First and Free” mechanism to compensate Panama for waived canal tolls, a critical incentive for maintaining unrestricted maritime access. Analysts say the deal strengthens Panama’s economy while securing U.S. commercial and military interests.
Hegseth’s visit also reaffirmed $230 million in U.S. security aid over five years, funding counter-narcotics operations and border enforcement. President Mulino praised the collaboration, in a sharp contrast to his predecessor’s warmer ties with Beijing.
The Panama Canal remains one of the world’s most strategic chokepoints, and the U.S.-Panama partnership ensures it stays open, neutral, and free from coercion. The deal represents a return to assertive diplomacy—one that prioritizes American interests without direct ownership. As Hegseth put it: “Together, we will take back the canal from China’s influence.” Whether through military presence, economic leverage, or diplomatic persuasion, the message is clear: the U.S. is back in the game.
Sources for this article include:
TheNationalPulse.com
FoxNews.com
NYPost.com

U.S. and Panama strengthen security ties, counter China’s influence in key canal region – NaturalNews.com