Central America
Nicaragua and China upgrade relations to strategic partnership
December 20 |
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega held a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday where they agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, on the second anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Recognizing that the strategic nature of bilateral relations has been highlighted on a daily basis, both parties agreed to elevate binational relations to the level of Strategic Partnership.
For Daniel Ortega and Xi Jinping, the decision to elevate relations corresponds to the common interests of both countries and their peoples and favors the development and prosperity of Nicaragua and China.
According to a joint communiqué, Daniel Ortega and Xi Jinping appreciated the rapid development of Sino-Nicaraguan ties since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.
Both heads of state recognized the progress achieved in areas such as mutual political trust, practical and supportive cooperation in various areas and collaboration in multilateral forums over the past two years.
Elsewhere in the text, the Nicaraguan government expressed its support for the one China principle and reiterated that Beijing is the only legitimate government representing all of China.
The Nicaraguan side resolutely opposes Taiwan independence in all its manifestations, and reaffirmed its commitment not to maintain any kind of official contact with Taiwan, and also affirmed its support for all efforts of the Chinese Government to materialize the reunification of the country.
For its part, China affirmed its support for the Nicaraguan people to sovereignly choose the path of development in accordance with their own conditions, also supports the independence, sovereignty, self-determination, security and development interests of Nicaragua.
The Chinese side communicated its rejection of foreign interference in Nicaragua’s internal affairs.
In this regard, Xi Jinping’s government recognized that under the presidency of Daniel Ortega, the Central American country has achieved notable successes in defending independence, maintaining stability, developing the economy and improving the welfare of the people.
Beijing is confident that the current Nicaraguan government will achieve new successes in nation building and the Nicaraguan people will have a better life. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and assistance within its reach for Nicaragua’s economic and social development.
In another point of the communiqué, Nicaragua and China valued the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries and will promote its early entry into force.
The parties will take full advantage of mechanisms such as the Joint Economic-Commercial Commission and platforms such as the China-Nicaragua FTA, to expand the volume and raise the level of binational trade.
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.
Central America
International Project Tackles Gender Violence in Indigenous Communities in Panama
Efforts to combat machismo and gender-based violence in Panama’s indigenous communities are advancing through international cooperation projects, including an initiative presented this week that is evolving from women’s empowerment toward a new phase focused on educating husbands and sons.
The project, led by the organization HIAS with support from the Spanish Cooperation Agency, is being implemented in the Emberá-Wounaan indigenous territory in the Darién jungle region near the Colombian border.
Originally created to bring state services closer to remote communities, the initiative focused on access to healthcare — particularly sexual and reproductive health services — but later expanded to promote broader access to fundamental rights.
“The project emerged from the understanding that strengthening the rights of the population as a whole was essential to achieving fairer, more cohesive and inclusive societies capable of fighting poverty,” Itziar González, general coordinator of Spanish Cooperation in Panama, told EFE.
HIAS Country Director in Panama Oliver Bush explained that the initiative includes “a very strong component of empowerment for women and adolescent girls in the Emberá-Wounaan communities, aimed at recovering the historical worldview in which women have always played a fundamental role in decision-making within their communities.”
The program also includes prevention, mitigation and response mechanisms against gender-based violence, an area that will be reinforced during the project’s second phase.
“It will include a component focused on positive masculinities, where we will work with men, because men are an important factor in the prevention and mitigation of gender violence,” Bush said.
According to Bush, the initiative seeks not only to eliminate stigmas and forms of everyday sexism that are often socially and culturally ingrained in men, but also to encourage men to recognize themselves as sensitive human beings capable of contributing to healthier and more equal communities.
Central America
Guatemala’s President to Hold Private Interviews for Attorney General Candidates
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León announced that he will privately interview the six candidates for attorney general this week, breaking with the public format used by former President Alejandro Giammattei.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Arévalo said the interviews would not be open to the public because he intends to question candidates about their plans to recover the Attorney General’s Office from what he described as “political-criminal networks.”
Under Guatemalan law, the president is responsible for appointing the country’s attorney general.
The position has been held since 2018 by Consuelo Porras, whose term is set to expire on May 16 after two consecutive terms marked by local and international allegations of corruption.
Arévalo is expected to select the new attorney general later this week from a shortlist recently submitted by a nomination commission.
The Guatemalan president has repeatedly criticized the Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming it has been compromised by corrupt political interests.
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
International Project Tackles Gender Violence in Indigenous Communities in Panama
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International2 days agoKing Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
-
International3 days agoMexico Arrests CJNG Leader “El Jardinero” in Nayarit
-
Central America21 hours agoU.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
-
International4 days agoSuspect Armed With Shotgun and Knives Detained at White House Correspondents Dinner
-
International2 days agoTrump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
-
Central America21 hours agoInternational Project Tackles Gender Violence in Indigenous Communities in Panama
-
Central America3 days agoGuatemala’s President to Hold Private Interviews for Attorney General Candidates