🚢US and China duke it out at UN Security Council over Panama Canal control accusations
Foreign Policy
Constitutional Law
Trade & Commerce
The U.S. and China had a public showdown at the UN Security Council on August 11, 2025, after Trump threatened to grab back the Panama Canal, claiming China "operates" it through Hong Kong companies that run ports on both ends. America's UN ambassador warned that Chinese influence threatens global trade, while China's diplomat shot back that the U.S. was making up excuses to steal the canal. Panama's president had to defend his own country's sovereignty while Trump's team pressured China to sell the port operations to BlackRock and other American firms.
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Why This Matters
Small countries become chess pieces when superpowers fight over global trade routes
Panama got dragged into a U.S.-China cage match they never wanted, showing how great power competition turns sovereign nations into bargaining chips rather than independent actors.
Your Amazon packages and gas prices depend on who controls strategic shipping chokepoints
About 40% of U.S. container traffic flows through that canal—when politicians threaten to seize trade infrastructure, supply chain chaos hits your wallet within weeks.
UN Security Council debates reveal how international law works when powerful countries ignore it
Trump's canal threats violate treaties America signed, but U.S. veto power means the UN can't do anything—classic example of might making right in international relations.
Follow how trade chokepoints affect your daily costs at real-time shipping trackers
Check MarineTraffic.com and FreightWaves.com to see how canal disruptions immediately spike prices for goods you buy—understanding global supply chains helps you prepare for political trade wars.
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About _____% of U.S. container traffic flows through the Panama Canal, making it critical for _____ prices.
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Where did the US-China confrontation over the Panama Canal take place on August 11, 2025?
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Foreign Policy
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Who is Panama's current president who defended his country's sovereignty at the UN?
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Foreign Policy
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Who is China's UN Ambassador who defended Panama's management of the canal?
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Foreign Policy
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When did control of the Panama Canal officially transfer from the US to Panama?
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Constitutional Law
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What did China's ambassador call the U.S. in the South China Sea region?
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Foreign Policy
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What defense agreement did U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sign with Panama in April 2025?
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Constitutional Law
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Panama currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council for August 2025.
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Constitutional Law
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Chinese companies operate ports at both ends of the Panama Canal through Hong Kong-based firms.
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Trade & Commerce
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Trump's threats to retake the Panama Canal would violate treaties that America signed.
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Constitutional Law