President of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, announced on Thursday the withdrawal of his country from the Chinese initiative "Belt and Road". The decision is based on the necessity to protect national interests of Panama and its neutrality in international relations.
According to Mulino's statement, the decision to withdraw from the initiative was made due to the need to concentrate on national issues and protect the interests of the country. Panama also aims to maintain its neutrality in global politics.
"We recognized the need to concentrate on the national interests of Panama. Our decision to withdraw from the initiative 'Belt and Road' corresponds to the striving to ensure the independence and sovereignty of our country," noted the president.
Experts point out that this decision represents a significant shift in Panama's foreign policy and may affect its relations with China. They call for a careful analysis of the consequences of this step for both countries.
