International
Investigation of the San José galleon, the great scientific challenge that Colombia embarks on
Colombia embarked on one of the greatest scientific challenges in its history: the investigation of the Spanish galleon San José, sunk by English privateers off the coast of Cartagena de Indias in the 18th century and found in 2015 at a depth of more than 600 meters.
The authorities began this work with great enthusiasm, for which different institutions were articulated such as the Ministry of Cultures, the Navy and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (Icanh).
“Associated with archaeology, culture and heritage, it is the first time we have made such a great effort and in this Government, particularly, to believe in the institutions and in the ability we have to do something to show the world. It is a special challenge,” the head of Maritime and River Interests of the Colombian Navy, Rear Admiral Hermann León, told EFE.
That institution put at the service of this purpose the ship ARC Caribe and all its technological capacity to “be able to go down to 600 meters deep” to observe the wreck, a task to which only Colombian specialists will dedicate themselves.
For the investigation, which will be of six phases, the Government of Colombia has also already made a decision that will make its work easier: to declare as ‘Protected Archaeological Area of the Nation’ the area where the galleon is, whose coordinates are secret to prevent treasure hunters from reaching there that can steal what was in the San José.
“This is the first protected archaeological area of Colombia in the underwater space, it is the first in America at this depth. Colombia is doing a research project as it has not been seen before under the universal principles of heritage protection and they must be assured that this is a scientific project to bring the best of that knowledge to Colombians,” the Rear Admiral added.
The San José, built in 1698 in Guipúzcoa (Spain) and belonging to the Spanish Navy, was sunk on June 8, 1708 during an attack by a fleet of English privateers when it was on its way to Cartagena de Indias loaded, according to chronicles of the time, with about 11 million coins of eight shields in gold and silver that it had collected at the Portobelo fair (Panama).
Spain, based on the rules of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), claims the ownership of the galleon for being “a state ship,” with its flag.
The Colombian Government, which declared the San José “asset of submerged cultural interest,” does not rule out collaboration with that country to treat the wrech as a shared heritage.
The director of the Icanh, Alhena Caicedo, explained to EFE that the investigation of the galleon is the result of “an intention to transform what the history of Colombia implies, to transform the assessment of the archaeological heritage and to give the San José galleon a sense of national identity.”
“The idea is to remove that somewhat mythological nuance that has made it a rather controversial treasure, in which people are trying to see if there is gold, if there is silver, if there are precious metals and not if there is an archaeological text that can give us very interesting answers about what the history of Colombia and the Caribbean has been,” Caicedo said.
For that reason, the focus is on protecting the archaeological heritage, on “guaranteeing a cultural value” for Colombia in order to show a more local than European story.
For that purpose, the director of Icanh explained, the research takes into account the voices of different actors, ranging from indigenous people who claim their rights over the spit to academics who are experts in heritage issues.
“We want to guarantee through this high-level scientific research that there are multiple voices, multiple ways of thinking about history and memory, multiple stories, if you want, that allow us to complicate the readings that we sometimes have about the past in order to have a much more interesting future reference,” he added.
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.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
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