International
Haiti summons Dominican ambassador after border closure
September 16 |
After the Dominican Republic closed all its borders with Haiti, the Haitian government summoned the Dominican ambassador Faruk Miguel Castillo to explain the decision taken by President Luis Abinader that “will have negative consequences for relations between the two countries”.
The Foreign Ministry informed that in a meeting with Ambassador Faruk Miguel Castillo “they agreed that only through dialogue can allow the two countries to resolve this dispute.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haiti communicated to the Dominican ambassador in that country its concern for the safety of Haitians in the Dominican Republic and requested that measures be taken to protect them.
The two nations are at loggerheads over the construction of a canal on the part of the Masacre River that passes through Haiti.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader ordered Thursday the closure of all borders with Haiti, after several days of meetings between officials from both countries trying to reach an agreement in the conflict over access to water from the Masacre River.
All borders with Haiti were closed as of Friday, September 15 at 06H00 local time, according to the Government’s decision. This includes air, land and maritime border crossings.
A communiqué from the Haitian Foreign Ministry reported that in a meeting between the minister in charge of interim affairs, Émmile Prophète, and the Dominican ambassador, both parties “agreed that only the way of dialogue can allow the two countries to solve this dispute in a lasting way”.
“After exploring with him (Castillo) the various facets of the crisis arising from the resumption of the canal works on the Masacre River, we finally agreed with Ambassador Miguel Castillo that only through dialogue can the two countries find a lasting solution to this dispute”, reads the official note.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the population that, following the implementation of the Dominican president’s threats to close the land, air and maritime borders with the Republic of Haiti, the Haitian delegation put an end to the bilateral negotiations underway in Santo Domingo, and that Ambassador Castillo was then summoned to give explanations “on this unilateral decision”.
The Dominican government has been denouncing since the beginning of the month the construction by a private Haitian of this system to channel water from the Masacre river, shared by both countries, with the idea of selling it to farmers in their country. A work that does not have the endorsement of Port-au-Prince.
Santo Domingo claims that the work violates the Treaty of Peace and Perpetual Friendship and Arbitration of 1929, the Border Agreement of 1935 and the Border Revision Protocol of 1936.
“It is a totally inadequate construction, without any type of engineering, it is a provocation that this government will not accept”, insisted Abinader, who has maintained a tough policy on Haiti with massive raids against undocumented immigrants and the construction of a border fence.
International
Iranian leader warns foreign powers have “no place” in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said Thursday that the Persian Gulf is entering a new era marked by a “bright” future without the presence of the United States in the region.
His remarks came during the commemoration of Persian Gulf Day, amid ongoing regional tensions following recent military confrontations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
“Today, two months after the largest military buildup and aggression by the bullies of the world in the region and the humiliating defeat of the United States, a new chapter is being written for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” Khamenei stated.
The Iranian leader insisted that the future of the region would be free from American influence and focused instead on the internal development and prosperity of Gulf nations.
“By the power and strength of God, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without the United States and dedicated to the progress, welfare, and prosperity of its nations,” he said.
Khamenei also questioned the effectiveness of U.S. military bases in the region, arguing that they do not provide security even for Washington’s allies.
“Foreigners who come from thousands of miles away and commit evil and malicious acts have no place there except at the bottom of its waters,” he declared.
In addition, the Iranian leader defended new measures being prepared by Tehran to regulate maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, including fees for vessels passing through the strategic waterway. According to Khamenei, the policies would generate economic benefits and greater stability for the region.
Regional tensions remain high following the conflict that erupted on February 28 between the United States and Israel against Iran, leading to strategic blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply previously passed. The situation has disrupted maritime trade and contributed to rising global oil prices.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
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