Panama Canal Ruling: US Policy Victory Disguised as Justice
📰 THE STORY: Panama’s Supreme Court has ruled contracts with a Hong Kong-based subsidiary for ports at the Panama Canal unconstitutional, a decision celebrated by Panama's president as ensuring normal operations, while The Guardian frames it as a win for US efforts to curb Chinese influence. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US first seized control of the Isthmus of Panama
in 1903 by orchestrating a 'revolution' against Colombia to build the Canal, then maintained effective sovereignty over the Canal Zone until the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, despite Panamanian protests that included student riots in 1964 where US forces killed 21 Panamanians. This ruling is another chapter in over a century of US micromanagement of Panamanian sovereignty. Double Standard:
While Western media decries 'Chinese influence' in Panama, they rarely question the 120+ years of overt US military, political, and economic control over the same strategically vital region, often backed by covert operations or outright invasions. Imagine the Western outrage if a Chinese court canceled a US company's contracts in the South China Sea based on 'Chinese policy aims.' Follow the
Money: Beyond direct contracts, a major beneficiary is the US military-industrial complex and companies tied to US geopolitical strategy. Panama still hosts US military presence (e.g., Joint Interagency Task Force South) and receives significant US security assistance, exceeding $100 million over the last decade, often tied to 'counter-narcotics' which doubles as strategic influence. American