“The #PanamaCanal is not in the process of being restored, & this is certainly not the task that was even discussed in our conversations with Secretary #Rubio or anyone else," #Mulino said.

Asked about Mulino's comments Wednesday, WH Press Sec Karoline Leavitt said during a press conference, "I'm not sure if #Panama has seen what's going on with their own canal."

#FactCheck #TrumpLies #disinformation #Trumpaganda #Trump #USpol #geopolitics

#GeoPol #PanamaCanal #BlackRock #CKHutchinson #Panama #USpol #China

(1/n)

Would #BlackRock have invested in a sinking ship?--Probably not.

True, the Canal is no ship and, quite to the contrary, it is not shipping. However, the carrying capacity has been continuously eroding as #ClimateChange takes a grip of the region 1):

in 2024, #Panama experienced its second driest year on record.

A new "#MultimodalDryCanal project simply might not...

1)
economist.com/the-americas/202…

Severe drought is constraining the Panama Canal

Costs for ships to go through it are spiralling. Consumers will feel the pinch

^{The Economist}

#GeoPol #PanamaCanal #BlackRock #CKHutchinson #Panama #USpol #China

(2/n)

...be able to sustain the capacity:

"But the canal’s upgrades can’t keep up with climate change’s cascading effects. Lake #Gatún and Lake #Alajuela are replenished with rainwater, and a lingering drought compounded by #ElNiño has resulted in the second-driest year in the Panama Canal’s existence. To compensate, the daily average number of ships allowed to pass through the lock...

#GeoPol #PanamaCanal #BlackRock #CKHutchinson #Panama #USpol #China

(3/n)

...system has been reduced from 38 to 27, while each vessel is also now required to carry less cargo. " 2)

I would be laughting so hard if #BlackRock had not given these continously diminishing returns enough thought...

What is more, tTrump might also rue his publicly speaking speaking out for #US control of the old canal:

Especially in face of the security issues regarding...

2)
popsci.com/environment/panama-…

A new solution proposed for drought-stricken Panama Canal goes around it | Popular Science

Some trade routes will need to detour over land.

^{Andrew Paul (Popular Science)}

#GeoPol #PanamaCanal #BlackRock #CKHutchinson #Panama #USpol #China

(4/n)

...#Houthis in #Yemen and the resulting in a reduction in ships going through the much shorter Asia route via the #SuezCanal. 3)

Apart from such megalomaniac construction project which would, theoretically, sever the land bridge b/w northern and southern #Panama, it seems to me that there is no real fix that would give the Canal back its...

3)
economist.com/the-americas/202…

The dwindling of the Panama Canal boosts rival trade routes

But they may end up more complementary than competitive

^{The Economist}

#GeoPol #PanamaCanal #BlackRock #CKHutchinson #Panama #USpol #China

(5/5)

...#Houthis

...erstwhile luster.

Today, petty #tRump has already singled out a culprit when things go south (pun intended:) the new #SecretaryOfState, #MarcoRubio.

Sorry, but...🤣

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