U.S. Department of State
04/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/28/2026 16:49
Joint Statement in Support of Panama’s Sovereignty Between the United States of America, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago
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Joint Statement in Support of Panama's Sovereignty Between the United States of America, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Begin Text:
We, the nations of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States, standing together in our shared mission to secure our hemisphere, reaffirm that the freedom of our region is non-negotiable. We are monitoring with vigilance China's targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels. These actions-following the decision of Panama's independent Supreme Court regarding the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals-are a blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere.
Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system, and as such must remain free from any undue external pressure. Any attempts to undermine Panama's sovereignty are a threat to us all.
We stand in solidarity with Panama. Through our renewed commitment to peace, security, and Hemispheric cooperation, we remain dedicated to facing all threats to ensure the Americas remain a region of freedom, security, and prosperity.
End Text.
U.S. Department of State published this content on April 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 28, 2026 at 22:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]