00:00Trinidad and Tobago has long-standing relations with both the United States and China.
00:05However, the U.S. State Department announced that the United States of America, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad
00:14and Tobago have issued a joint statement in support of Panama's sovereignty.
00:19The joint statement declared that those six nations standing together in their shared mission to secure our hemisphere reaffirmed that
00:29the freedom of the region is non-negotiable.
00:33Similar words were used by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a social media post on the matter.
00:40The State Department revealed that the nations of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States
00:47are monitoring with vigilance China's targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels.
00:55The State Department announced that these actions, following the decision of Panama's independent Supreme Court regarding the Balboa and Cristobal
01:05terminals, are a blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere.
01:13The Associated Press is reporting that a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry in a news conference on Wednesday said the
01:20statements are completely unfounded and distort reality.
01:24The joint statement noted that Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and as such must remain free
01:31from any undue external pressure and that any attempts to undermine Panama's sovereignty are a threat to us all.
01:39Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States declared that they stand in solidarity with Panama
01:47and that through their renewed commitment to peace, security, and hemispheric cooperation,
01:52they remain dedicated to facing all threats to ensure the Americas remain a region of freedom, security, and prosperity.
02:02Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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